Intel is investigating reports of stability issues and game crashes affecting its high-end 13th and 14th generation Core i9 processors. The investigation was conducted following numerous complaints from PC gamers who experienced frequent crashes and instability, particularly in games that used the Unreal Engine.
An Intel spokesperson told ZDNet Korea: “Intel is aware of the issues encountered when performing certain tasks on 13th and 14th Generation Core processors for desktop PCs and is working with leading partners to address them analyze.” Intel told ZDNet Korea.
The affected processors include the Core i9-13900K and the Core i9-14900K. Users are reporting crashes in popular titles like Fortnite, Tekken 8, and Hogwarts Legacy. Some players have experienced the “Out of video memory” error message, others have had their games freeze unexpectedly or have their systems freeze completely.
The problem is so common that Fortnite and Unreal Engine developer Epic Games has issued a support notice asking affected users to adjust their BIOS settings to avoid crashes. Proposed solutions include manually underclocking or undervolting Intel processors, which raises concerns about the stability and performance of these high-end CPUs.
In South Korea, the problem is even worse, with PC retailers reporting a significant increase in CPU returns and trade-ins. A company representative said: “The number of customers visiting customer centers to check for changes to 13th and 14th generation Core processors has recently increased to more than 10 people per day.”
While the exact cause of the crash remains unknown, the wide-ranging nature of the reports prompted Intel to launch an investigation in collaboration with key subsidiaries. The company has not yet announced a timeline for the review or possible revisions.
The game crashes raised questions about whether Intel was overclocking its latest CPUs at the expense of performance stability. Some users have even accused this company of selling unstable processors. This also highlights the importance of fully testing and validating new hardware before it hits the market.
Intel is currently investigating the cause of the system crash that affected some users. Unfortunately, affected users have limited options for maintaining system stability. Downclocking or underloading the CPU can be a temporary solution, but many gamers are frustrated by having to compromise on performance to ensure a crash-free experience.