New i5-14500 Crashing During Win11 Install

[David_Owens]

I have a new computer build with a boxed i5-14500 processor and ASRock B760 Pro RS/4 motherboard. After powering on the first time, I upgraded the motherboard's BIOS to fix the 13/14th gen voltage problem. 

I was able to run MemTest for almost 4 hours and 4 passes with zero errors, but the Windows 11 install crashes every time with a CLOCK_WATCHDOG_TIMEOUT error. Nothing has ever been overclocked and the BIOS settings are at the defaults. CPU and motherboard temps are good. It's not a problem with the SSD drive, and I'm not using a PCIe video card.

At this point I'm thinking probably a processor problem?

[AlfredoS_Intel]

Hi David_owens,

Thank you for posting in Intel Communities and for the tests that you have done prior to creating the thread.

I agree with you that it could probably be a processor issue; however, the tests that you have done is still not conclusive.

Kindly answer the following:

1. Have you tried with only one stick of RAM?

2. Have you tried with a different Windows 11 installer build?

3. Please try to downgrade your BIOS then install. If it installs fine, install the latest BIOS update.

4. Since the build is new and the item is most likely within 30 days from date of purchase, kindly seek help from the store where you bought the item from to see if they can test the CPU on their build or test another CPU on your build.

Looking forward to your answers.

Best Regards,

Alfred S

Intel Customer Support Technician

[David_Owens]

Thanks for the reply. Here is an update.

I replaced the motherboard with the seller. After installing the i5-14500 CPU and stock heatsink the Windows 11 install worked fine. I was able to boot into Win11 from the SSD. After that I upgraded the BIOS to get the newest one because it has the 0x129 microcode fix for the 13/14 gen voltage issue. After restarting Win11 black screen froze at boot and any attempt at a reinstall got the same crash at the same point as the original motherboard.

The problem all along was the BIOS upgrade, but now I don't understand why this the happening or how to fix it. Is it safe to downgrade the BIOS back to the version that shipped with the board? The board right now ships with version 7.02 and I upgraded to version 10.1.

[AlfredoS_Intel]

Hi David_owens,

Thank you for your response.

After analyzing your answers, there is a possibility that there is an issue with the BIOS update released by the board manufacturer that contains the 0x129 Microcode.  Usually, when a processor is showing instability issues when you upgrade to the 0x129 Microcode it is already due for RMA; however, in your case, both boards are behaving the same suggesting that the issue could only be innate on this motherboard mode.

That said, you can try the following:

1. Check with Asrock, if you are safe to load the previous BIOS 9.04. If you load it and still experience issues with it the processor is faulty.

I will be waiting for the results of this suggestion.

Best Regards,

Alfred S

Intel Customer Support Technician

[David_Owens]

I'm in contact with ASRock technical support. They suggested I RMA the processor at this point.

I assume if they were having issues this severe with this 0x129 Microcode BIOS update for this particular board they would know about it by now. They didn't mention it in my communications with them.

It seems like loading an older BIOS version doesn't tell us anything. If it works that just puts us back where we were when I had the same processor and the replacement board. If at that point I re-load the 10.01 BIOS and it goes back to having the same install crash problem, does that mean the BIOS upgrade is the issue, or couldn't it still be the processor? Maybe the BIOS upgrade just exposes a problem with the processor that the older BIOS does not.

At this point I have no idea if a replacement processor will fix this bizarre issue. It has to be either a problem with the processor, the BIOS upgrade, or the memory. I've ran Memtest twice and it passed both times after running almost 4 hours and 4 passes, so I doubt the memory could be it.

Thanks for the reply.

[AlfredoS_Intel]

Hi David_owens,

Thank you for your response.

I value your insights on the matter.

Let me answer your questions first:

1. If at that point I re-load the 10.01 BIOS and it goes back to having the same install crash problem, does that mean the BIOS upgrade is the issue, or couldn't it still be the processor?

The most likely answer is the BIOS upgrade is the issue as two processors are already tried. Additionally according to our investigation, Intel confirms these currently available processors are not affected by the Vmin Shift Instability issue:

·      12th Gen Intel Core desktop and mobile processors

·      Intel Core 13th and 14th Gen i5 (non-K) & i3 desktop processors

·      Intel Core 13th and 14th Gen mobile processors – including HX-series processors.

·      Intel Xeon processors – including server and workstation processors.

·      Intel Core Ultra (Series 1) processors

2. At this point I have no idea if a replacement processor will fix this bizarre issue. It has to be either a problem with the processor, the BIOS upgrade, or the memory. I've ran Memtest twice and it passed both times after running almost 4 hours and 4 passes, so I doubt the memory could be it.

If the processor is within 30 days from its date of purchase, you may have the option to quickly return it to the store where you bought it from. If this is feasible, you can just have the processor replaced.

We will wait for your response.

Best Regards,

Alfred S

Intel Customer Support Technician

[David_Owens]

I think you're confused about one issue. I haven't tried two different processors. I've tried two different(same model) ASRock motherboards with the same i5-14500 processor. With the first motherboard I upgraded the BIOS and then tried installing Win11. Got the crash problem. With the replacement motherboard I installed Win11 and had no problems until I tried upgrading the BIOS. The Win11 install that previously worked black-screen crashed at boot from the SSD. The Win11 install went back to having the same crash problem as before.

"Intel Core 13th and 14th Gen i5 (non-K) & i3 desktop processors" 

OK that information helps. I was under the impression the Vmin Shift Instability issue could affect any 13th or 14th generation processor. I have a non-K i5-14500 so I won't need the BIOS upgrade. If the system still has the crash problem when I get the replacement i5-14500 I'll go back to a previous BIOS version.

Thanks again for the help.

[AlfredoS_Intel]

Hi David_owens,

Thank you for considering our suggestions of having the processor replaced by your place of purchase.

If you would like to give us an update or if you have further questions, please submit a new question as this thread will no longer being monitored.

Thank you for contacting Intel® and have a great year.

Best Regards,

Alfred S

Intel Customer Support Technician