Intel CPUs Stumble Again: Black Myth: Wukong Exposes Performance Issues
The latest chapter in the ongoing saga of Intel’s 13th and 14th generation processor woes has unfolded with the release of benchmark results for the highly anticipated game, Black Myth: Wukong. The game, developed by Game Science, has revealed a critical compatibility issue with Intel’s flagship CPUs, causing system crashes during shader compilation.
Black Myth: Wukong Uncovers Intel CPU Instability
Shader compilation is a critical process in modern gaming, where the game’s graphics processor converts code into instructions for rendering visuals. During this process, Black Myth: Wukong is triggering an instability in Intel’s 13th and 14th generation processors, leading to system crashes. This issue is particularly problematic as shader compilation is essential for achieving optimal performance in demanding games like Black Myth: Wukong.
The root cause of the problem appears to be linked to the behavior of Intel’s frequency and voltage scaling mechanisms. Under specific conditions, these processors are exhibiting erratic behavior, with core frequencies spiking to maximum levels and voltage stability deteriorating. While the exact reasons for this instability remain unclear, it’s evident that Intel’s microcode updates, including the recent 0x129 release, have not fully addressed the underlying issue.
User Reports and Workarounds
Numerous users have reported encountering crashes while running Black Myth: Wukong on Intel-based systems. Some have found temporary solutions by manually lowering CPU frequencies or disabling shader compilation altogether. However, these workarounds often result in performance degradation, highlighting the need for a permanent fix.
It’s worth noting that not all users are experiencing these issues. Some users have reported stable performance with Intel’s default settings and the 0x129 microcode, suggesting that the problem might be more prevalent in specific system configurations or under certain workload conditions.
Impact on Gaming Performance and User Experience
The instability issues affecting Intel’s 13th and 14th generation processors have significant implications for gamers. Black Myth: Wukong is just one example of a demanding game that is being impacted by these problems. As more games push the limits of hardware capabilities, the likelihood of encountering similar issues increases.
Intel’s failure to address these performance concerns is a cause for concern among PC enthusiasts and gamers alike. The company’s reputation for delivering high-performance computing solutions is at stake, and it is imperative that they take swift and decisive action to resolve these issues.
