Intel Core i9 CPUs face 50% failure rate in VFX studios; AMD Ryzen 9 9950X gains ground

Visual effects studios are reporting widespread

stability issues with Intel's latest Core i9 processors, leading some to switch to AMD. Dylan Browne, an Unreal Engine supervisor at ModelFarm, disclosed a 50% failure rate for systems using Intel Core i9-14900K and 13900K CPUs over the past year.

This development follows recent reports from game studios, including Alderon Games, which claimed a 100% crash rate with Intel desktop CPUs when running Unreal Engine. The issues appear to be related to the engine's Oodle compression.

In response to these reports, Intel acknowledged the problem and announced a microcode mitigation scheduled for mid-August. However, the company disputes claims of similar issues affecting laptop processors.

Browne noted that some new processors exhibited instability immediately, while others took time to show symptoms. Attempts to mitigate the issues by adjusting power limits and motherboard settings were unsuccessful.

The affected systems at ModelFarm reportedly use Asus ROG motherboards, though specific models were not disclosed. Browne mentioned that BIOS updates had yet to be applied to these systems.

As a result of these ongoing issues, ModelFarm has begun deploying AMD's upcoming Zen 5 Ryzen 9 9950X processors to replace the affected Intel systems.

Intel attributes the instability to elevated operating voltages and problematic microcode algorithms, which result in incorrect voltage requests to the CPU. The company's explanation has evolved since initial reports of the issues surfaced.

This situation poses a significant challenge for Intel, potentially benefiting AMD as it prepares to launch its new Ryzen lineup. The full extent of the problem and the effectiveness of Intel's upcoming microcode patch remain to be seen.