There are no additional license costs to move from V13 SP1 to the more recent SP2.
Engineers often refer to specific software builds as "Golden Masters"—versions so stable that they become the standard for deployment. Update 4 fixed critical bugs that plagued earlier updates. It significantly reduced the frequency of "unexplained crashes" during compilation and download, providing a stable environment for complex projects involving S7-1500 and S7-1200 PLCs.
Here is a deep dive into why this specific update made the software "better" and why it remains a crucial version for many automation professionals. 1. Drastic Reduction in System Lag siemens tia portal v13 sp1 update 4 better
Fail-safe blocks (F-blocks) previously marked as "unsupported" are automatically supported after upgrading to this version. Tag Usage:
: Updates are cumulative. Installing a later update (like Update 9) will include all fixes from Update 4. Known Issues (USER FEEDBACK) TIA Portal V13 SP1 Update 4 - Support There are no additional license costs to move
license and optimized fail-safe instructions (like TON, TOF, and TP) that use less memory and offer better stability. Safety and Bug Fixes
V13 SP1 Update 4 offered a much more robust integration of the STARTER toolset directly within the TIA Portal interface. This allowed for better parameterization of SINAMICS G120 and S120 drives. The "better" experience here is defined by workflow—being able to handle PLC logic and Drive configuration in a single window without crashing the software was a massive productivity booster. Drastic Reduction in System Lag Fail-safe blocks (F-blocks)
While TIA Portal V13 SP1 Update 4 is undeniably the most robust version of the V13 family, it is important to note that Siemens has moved on.