If a CPU gets too hot, one of the first steps for experienced users is to reduce the core voltage in the BIOS settings. The higher-end models from Intel's current Core i-14000 series (Raptor Lake Refresh) are particularly hotheads under load. However, undervolting on models without the suffix K in the name led to a drop in performance because the CEP (Current Excursion Protection) feature was then triggered. New BIOS versions should now also enable undervolting for the remaining 14,000 series CPUs from B0 stepping onwards in combination with certain chipsets, without affecting performance.
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In a blog post, MSI shows how the new BIOS works using the example of a Core i9-14900 and a Core i7-14700. Each measurement was carried out once with the previous BIOS, normal core voltage and activated CEP, then the drop in performance was shown with reduced core voltage and finally the consistent performance with reduced core voltage and lower temperature was demonstrated with new firmware.
MSI lists in a table which combinations of chipset and CPU are supported with the new BIOS undervolting without loss of performance. The good news: This includes not only the expensive models from the Z790 and Z690 series, but also the cheaper boards with the B760 or B660 chipsets. Although they use the same core architecture, even with the new firmware it will not be possible to deactivate CEP on CPUs of the 12th and 13th Core i generations (Alder Lake and Raptor Lake) without the K suffix; With the K variants this only works on boards from the Z series mentioned above.
(bkr)