i9 13900k showing wrong CPU (as i7 13700k)

mikalourus · 31 Aug 2023 at 22:26

Not sure if this is the right forum to ask this, is there another forum or area that's better suited?

I built my first pc in 15 years in April and was a bit of a learning curve, lost some hair in the process. There were some issues that I didn't resolve at the time as it seemed stable enough, I was able to complete the tasks I needed at the time and had enough of scrawling the internet for fixes. One of the main issues was the CPU overheating and constantly being 100 degrees (80ish when idle), but I read in a few places that the 13900k runs very hot and was not something to worry about so I moved on.

However I've had to do some rendering and getting the blue screen of death and the programme I've been using(sketchup/vray) has been frequently crashing. My first thought was to see if I can do something about the overheating cpu. I'm using a peerless assassin, I was thinking about upgrading to something more high end but from what I've read in various places it doesn't seem to be the issue here and it's not going to half my temps.

The crazy thing is everywhere is showing that my CPU is 12700k when it's a 13900k. In BIOS, CPUID, coretemp, task manager, device manager... everything reports it as the wrong processor. I just tried flashing the latest bios to no avail. Not really sure what other options I have, I've scoured the internet but there is very little out there. The box I have is for a 13900k, I'm more than certain when I looked at the back that's what was on the back. I dont have any paste to take it off and check atm but ordered some prime delivery. But I'm 95% sure it's the correct processor.

Tetras · 31 Aug 2023 at 22:52

mikalourus said:
The crazy thing is everywhere is showing that my CPU is 12700k when it's a 13900k. In BIOS, CPUID, coretemp, task manager, device manager... everything reports it as the wrong processor. I just tried flashing the latest bios to no avail. Not really sure what other options I have, I've scoured the internet but there is very little out there. The box I have is for a 13900k, I'm more than certain when I looked at the back that's what was on the back. I dont have any paste to take it off and check atm but ordered some prime delivery. But I'm 95% sure it's the correct processor.

Did you do a CMOS clear after the flash?

Can you take a screenshot from the tab of CPU-Z which shows the CPU? That should make it quite clear how many cores/threads you have and how much cache.

While you're there, also tell us the BIOS date/revision from CPU-Z.

Intel have a diagnostic tool and a CPU identification software, I'd download both.

mikalourus said:
One of the main issues was the CPU overheating and constantly being 100 degrees (80ish when idle), but I read in a few places that the 13900k runs very hot and was not something to worry about so I moved on.

However I've had to do some rendering and getting the blue screen of death and the programme I've been using(sketchup/vray) has been frequently crashing. My first thought was to see if I can do something about the overheating cpu. I'm using a peerless assassin, I was thinking about upgrading to something more high end but from what I've read in various places it doesn't seem to be the issue here and it's not going to half my temps.

Unless you're running the CPU power limited, while the peerless assassin is a good cooler, it is unlikely to be sufficient for this kind of workload. That said, it certainly should not be idling at 80 degrees. That suggests the mount is wrong.

Can you describe what happens when it crashes?

Do the BSODs report the same error, or are they different?

What's the event viewer look like? Any suspicious errors/reports?

wookiee87 · 31 Aug 2023 at 23:14

was the cpu bought second hand or from online retailers?, it sounds to me the cpu may have been delided on purpose and a 13900k ihs has been glued back on, if taskmanager, device manager, cpuid and coretemp are all showing a 13700k, then thats the cpu you have, if you can i would strongly recommend taking the cpu out and giving it a very good looking over, check the cpu carefully and if you can post pictures of the ihs and where it is glued to the chip.

mikalourus · 31 Aug 2023 at 23:18

Hi sorry I'm a bit unfamiliar with some of the terminology. I just realised it's showing as i7 13700 not 12700, but should be i9 13900k.

Here's a couple of screenshots of what I'm seeing

When it crashes either SketchUp just disappears instantly, or I get the blue screen of death and need to restart.

I'm not sure how to check the bsod report, going to look into that now thanks

mikalourus · 31 Aug 2023 at 23:20

wookiee87 said:
was the cpu bought second hand or from online retailers?, it sounds to me the cpu may have been delided on purpose and a 13900k ihs has been glued back on, if taskmanager, device manager, cpuid and coretemp are all showing a 12700k, then thats the cpu you have, if you can i would strongly recommend taking the cpu out and giving it a very good looking over, check the cpu carefully and if you can post pictures of the ihs and where it is glued to the chip, also post a picture of the back of the cpu the 13900k will have a fair few more transistors compared to a 12700k, i'll update this to show both cpu's (13900k) vs (12700k)

Sorry I wrote the 12700 but its actually showing as i7 13700k, but it should be i9 13900k

mikalourus · 31 Aug 2023 at 23:54

I took the cooler off and it is def a 13900k

wookiee87 · 31 Aug 2023 at 23:55

mikalourus said:
Sorry I wrote the 12700 but its actually showing as i7 13700k, but it should be i9 13900k

the chip you have is 13700k as the core count is incorrect, a 13900k should have 8 cores and 16 e-cores with 32 total threads, your chip has 8 cores 8 e-cores and 24 threads, i'd still take the cpu out and check if the ihs heatspredder is labeled a 13900k or a 13700k, the back of each chip is identical so it will be hard to tell them apart, but from your screen shots you have a 13700k

wookiee87 · 31 Aug 2023 at 23:56

mikalourus said:
I took the cooler off and it is def a 13900k

can you take the cpu out and check the glue bond of the ihs to the chip, see if anything looks funny or tamperd with

Rroff · 1 Sep 2023 at 00:03

Simpler explanation is it got binned wrong at Intel. Though good luck with sorting that - I've had similar before and a pain in the rear to get people to comprehend that it is the wrong product rather than a product not working.

Other possibility someone is erasing the original markings and restamping them to scam people.

wookiee87 · 1 Sep 2023 at 00:25

mikalourus said:
I took the cooler off and it is def a 13900k

i've just seen your other thread and seen where the cpu was bought from, reading some of the bad reviews, customers warn that its a scam and have had celrons with a 13900k ihs attached, delidding is a common scam where the cpu will be delidded and returned, the chip returned will have the 13900k headspredder installed but on a lower or much lower product underneath, they get a refund and keep the original cpu and buy a spare ihs online for a couple of quid and have the original cpu and a refund.

Not on at all but thats how some people are in the twisted world, i would start a case and provide as much evenence as you can and see what they can do. If nothing can be done its a life lesson i'm afraid, always buy from repitible retailers, ocuk are very good among others out there

random_matt · 1 Sep 2023 at 00:33

The IHS does not even look straight.

InfiniteNoise · 1 Sep 2023 at 00:55

Yeah, the IHS doesn't look straight, which suggests that it's been delidded and swapped.

Tetras · 1 Sep 2023 at 01:06

If I was going to do ihs swap, I wouldn't swap a 13700K, what's the point? They might as well use a crappy celeron/pentium to maximise profit, surely?

OP: was it retail boxed and sealed?

MartinPrince · 1 Sep 2023 at 01:23

Tetras said:
If I was going to do ihs swap, I wouldn't swap a 13700K, what's the point? They might as well use a crappy celeron/pentium to maximise profit, surely?

OP: was it retail boxed and sealed?

Yes, this was my first thought but if it was a faulty 13700K, (which by the amount of crashing he's getting it well might be) then that might be reason enough.

mikalourus · 1 Sep 2023 at 14:26

Hey guys thanks so much for the replies. As it was suggested the lids were in fact switched, on closer inspection this morning you can see at the bottom (ignore the arm hair, yes it's an air hair) there's a slight gap at some parts where the lid meets the board. I spoke with amazon who instantly offered a refund which I was surprised about. But I was armed with the information between here and toms hardware, and pre-empted that they would find my chip was probably a return though sold as new. The ridiculous thing is I had searched on my laptop (when autofill was suggesting terms last night after taking the chip out) about it being the wrong chip at the time but came across a post where someone suggested the mobo can detect the wrong chip if the BIOS predates the release of the chip you're trying to use. Along with everywhere saying the 13900k runs really hot I just assumed it was fine.

Have a bit of anxiety about returning the chip though as I've read similar stories about people being offered a refund and then the item going missing. They won't collect it which is concerning, but have sent me a QR to drop off at the local post office.

So glad I wrote on the forums as I was planning on trying to reseat with paste I have coming today, failing that shelling out £200 for a new cooler that I can't really afford atm due to my car dying on me last week and needing replaced.

So thanks again, have a great weekend!

Tetras · 1 Sep 2023 at 14:30

mikalourus said:
but came across a post where someone suggested the mobo can detect the wrong chip if the BIOS predates the release of the chip you're trying to use. Along with everywhere saying the 13900k runs really hot I just assumed it was fine.

That used to be the case, but with modern Intel boards the ME is so locked down, I suspect they would just refuse to boot with unidentified CPUs now.

In any case, the 13900K and 13700K were released on the same day, so that makes it unlikely a BIOS would recognise one and not other other.

MartinPrince · 1 Sep 2023 at 14:59

mikalourus said:
...Have a bit of anxiety about returning the chip though as I've read similar stories about people being offered a refund and then the item going missing. They won't collect it which is concerning, but have sent me a QR to drop off at the local post office....

No anxiety needed but I what I do for expensive items is to take a picture of the packaged item on my digital kitchen scales, which I know from experience are within a gram or two of my local post office. Before the post office scan the QR code they'll ask you to pop it on their scales and then the weight will be on the receipt/proof of postage they give you.

Once you've dropped it off a the Post Office it's Amazon's responsibility as they supplied the postage.

Kirby Wurm · 1 Sep 2023 at 16:14

That's terrible, I really hope this gets sorted for you ASAP. I guess it was sold via a third party seller on the rainforest?

Cyber-Mav · 1 Sep 2023 at 19:09

Id be tempted to stick and actual celeron under that ihs and send back to the seller for refund. But if its a duff 13700 then no point

wookiee87 · 3 Sep 2023 at 13:18

mikalourus said:
Not sure if this is the right forum to ask this, is there another forum or area that's better suited?

I built my first pc in 15 years in April and was a bit of a learning curve, lost some hair in the process. There were some issues that I didn't resolve at the time as it seemed stable enough, I was able to complete the tasks I needed at the time and had enough of scrawling the internet for fixes. One of the main issues was the CPU overheating and constantly being 100 degrees (80ish when idle), but I read in a few places that the 13900k runs very hot and was not something to worry about so I moved on.

However I've had to do some rendering and getting the blue screen of death and the programme I've been using(sketchup/vray) has been frequently crashing. My first thought was to see if I can do something about the overheating cpu. I'm using a peerless assassin, I was thinking about upgrading to something more high end but from what I've read in various places it doesn't seem to be the issue here and it's not going to half my temps.

The crazy thing is everywhere is showing that my CPU is 12700k when it's a 13900k. In BIOS, CPUID, coretemp, task manager, device manager... everything reports it as the wrong processor. I just tried flashing the latest bios to no avail. Not really sure what other options I have, I've scoured the internet but there is very little out there. The box I have is for a 13900k, I'm more than certain when I looked at the back that's what was on the back. I dont have any paste to take it off and check atm but ordered some prime delivery. But I'm 95% sure it's the correct processor.

Your story has had enough traction to be featured on videocardz, stuff like this has happened years ago as the article explains, just a reminder to all to be careful when buying expensive hardware, the rainforest isn't always the best option, but you can do things to protect yourself if you fall in