Re: [gentoo-user] Microcode updates for "old" Intel CPU's

[R0b0t1 <r030t1@gmail.com>]

On Sunday, 7 January 2018 20:46:52 GMT Taiidan@gmx.com wrote:
> I have several sandy/ivybridge CPU's and I was wondering if anyone knows
> as to if intel is releasing microcode updates for them.
>
> It sure would be funny if intel wanted you to buy a new CPU to fix a
> problem that was their fault to begin with.

As I found explained elsewhere, what can be done with microcode
updates is actually very limited. It was claimed that most often Intel
would use updates to disable features, permanently, and could not do
much more with microcode. This agrees with my understanding of
electronics, though I originally did think that slightly more was
possible. Perhaps they could disable some cache functionality or
speculative execution, but you would still be left with the
performance penalties of most of the code-based fixes.

In any case, using my original expectations, I would not expect them
to be able to modify the behavior of the execution units in such a
fundamental way. If great changes are possible with microcode then
Intel's processors are actually closer to FPGAs, which I do not think
is likely, as FPGAs are very power and space inefficient.


On Sun, Jan 7, 2018 at 6:00 PM, Peter Humphrey <peter@prh.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
> Welcome to unbridled capitalism, USA-style.
>

I have a mobile device that I noticed had a severe reduction in
battery life mid-November, about the time the patches were rolled out
by Microsoft. I may have to look at legal action in this regard, as
now the device is unusable. I assumed it was compromised anyway and
would prefer the performance back.

Cheers,
     R0b0t1