Intel’s Latest “0x114” Microcode Fails to Fix Arrow Lake-S CPU Problems, Leading to Performance Drops of Up to 18%

Intel’s latest microcode update, identified as “0x114,”appears to fall short of addressing the significant performance challenges facing the Arrow Lake processors. Recent benchmarking results indicate further declines in performance metrics.

Intel Faces Continued Struggles with Arrow Lake Desktop CPUs

Intel’s desktop CPU lineup has been grappling with various issues, particularly with the recently launched “Raptor Lake Refresh,”which encountered thermal instability. Now, a new complication has arisen with the Arrow Lake-S series. Users may recall that Intel has previously identified discrepancies in performance metrics between internal assessments and real-world consumer systems. In response, the company released the “0x114″microcode, designed to rectify several identified issues following their recent “Field Update.”However, the results remain troubling.

Alder Lake “performance”patches ⚠️

Massive performance drop with latest BIOS + MC + ME. Memory latency increased from ~69ns to ~80ns. I’ve run out of patience with this platform. @thraxbert pic.twitter.com/GSSeNNCEnX

— CapFrameX (@CapFrameX) December 30, 2024

Benchmark data shared by @CapFrameX reveals that the “0x114″microcode has not alleviated issues with the Arrow Lake-S processors. In fact, testing involving Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285K while running Cyberpunk 2077 showed an approximate 18% decrease in average frames per second (FPS), which is particularly concerning in light of previous performance losses. Despite Intel’s assertions of delivering a “double-digit”performance boost with the update, user experience seems to paint a different picture.

Image Credits: CapFrameX

Moreover, the benchmarking indicated a notable increase in memory latency, rising by approximately 14%, further compounding user dissatisfaction. While this testing is among the more credible evaluations of the newly launched microcode, further investigation is necessary to substantiate claims regarding the shortcomings of the latest ARL-S BIOS update.

Intel is reportedly planning to host a media briefing at CES 2025 aimed at addressing the performance issues associated with the Core Ultra 200S. This upcoming event may provide more clarity regarding the Arrow Lake-S series, but for the time being, consumers eagerly await an official response from Intel to assess whether the benchmark results reflect a broader trend of performance degradation across various systems.

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