August 1, 2024 Intel is potentially facing a class action lawsuit due to ongoing issues with its 13th- and 14th-gen Raptor Lake processors. The problems, which have caused crashing and instability for over a year, have led a law firm to investigate the possibility of legal action against the tech giant. Intel initially blamed overclocking and overvolting for the issues, urging users and OEMs to adhere to the company’s recommended baseline voltages.
In July, Intel pinpointed the cause of the problems as a microcode algorithm error that sent incorrect voltage levels to CPUs. Although a patch is scheduled for release this month to prevent unaffected processors from being impacted, those already damaged will need to be replaced. This revelation has fueled speculation about potential legal repercussions, especially given the high return rates of affected CPUs and significant failure rates reported by users and businesses.
Retailers have reported that Raptor Lake RMA returns are four times higher than for previous generations, and a VFX studio noted a 50% failure rate for these CPUs. Additionally, the issues affect all 65W and higher CPUs, including mainstream non-K models and their K/KF/KS variants. Intel has pledged to replace all damaged CPUs, a commitment that could involve handling tens of millions of RMAs, making it a costly endeavor.
Lawyers from Abington Cole + Ellery, a firm specializing in class actions and intellectual property, are exploring the possibility of ensuring Intel honors its promises. One lawyer even reached out on Reddit for reports of Intel refusing RMAs. While Intel claims to have honored all RMA claims through a process involving customer-submitted photos and a refundable fee, reports of refusals persist. If the class action proceeds, individual payouts might be minimal, similar to AMD’s settlement over Bulldozer chips, which averaged around $35 per claimant.
In other developments, Intel is reportedly planning to cut thousands of jobs globally as part of its cost-cutting measures, further compounding the company’s current challenges.
