Intel halts microcode patch development for 230+ CPUs

[ik9000]

the ones I'm really puzzled by are bloomfield and clarksdale. They were the high end chips when I bought my 1156 system, and in many ways superior to it. I can't figure out why they've given up on those - unless they're in the camp that isn't vulnerable. They really need to clarify regarding those in particular.

[Saracen]

.... all i am asking is for honesty, because i am curious, who here is still using 10 year old hardware? thanks

That would include me. I have a dozen or so systems that are 10+ years old.

[Kumagoro]

My main system is core 2.

I can see no reason for me to upgrade as I don't have time to play games hardly at all. It can do anything I need it to do quick. Transcoding is the only thing that I would notice and even then it is rare and not something I need in a hurry.

Core 2 running at 3GHz with an SSD I can still see me using easily in another 5 years and probably in 10.

The main driver has always been games and that applies more so now than 10 years ago. Everyday Office level stuff hasn't been a problem since core 2 and SSD's.

With regard to updating bids micro codes it is probably easier than you think. I did it to put a socket 771 Xeon in my machine. Someone has already made the software in GUI form and you just get the old bios open it up delete the old files, add the new ones and click go. Then you up date the bios as usual.

[Corky34]

This is a technical forum but this is only a minor subset of the greater user base. But saying "why don't you just modify the BIOS yourself, there's loads of guides" on a technical forum is like someone on a motoring forum saying "it's fine, why don't you just upgrade the spark plugs yourself, there's loads of guides".

Firstly i didn't just say "why don't you just modify the BIOS yourself, there's loads of guides", you seem to have, i hope not intentionally, omitted the rest of the sentence.

Secondly i would have thought most people know their own level of expertise, that is unless you're implying other people are so stupid that they can't make decisions for themselves.

And thirdly if you could get of your high horse for a moment and stop trying to create a strawman you'd see i didn't suggest for anyone to do it, i said it's possible to do it.

Plus, validating Intel just deciding to drop the development of these microcode fixes to spectre-2 on their older platforms where there is still a reasonably large user base still on them and 'they should do it themselves' is a bit naff. Sure they're out of support but it's Intels responsibility to fix their problem.

How is it Intel's fault if motherboard vendors don't bother updating older boards with the microcode that Intel has release?

[3dcandy]

My main system is a Westmere EP system - oh damn I'm getting patched (will never happen as the board is soooo old)

[Tabbykatze]

Firstly i didn't just say "why don't you just modify the BIOS yourself, there's loads of guides", you seem to have, i hope not intentionally, omitted the rest of the sentence.

Secondly i would have thought most people know their own level of expertise, that is unless you're implying other people are so stupid that they can't make decisions for themselves.

And thirdly if you could get of your high horse for a moment and stop trying to create a strawman you'd see i didn't suggest for anyone to do it, i said it's possible to do it.

Oh for crying out loud, here's the "strawman" crap all over again because someone challenged you. Sure i could have been a bit kinder, but I did think your original comment was very blaisé and it irked me that something as critical as a BIOS modification is thrown about so haphazardly.

Here's your quote:

You could always modify the BIOS file yourself, there's quiet a few guides out there if you're brave enough.

A lot of people don't know their expertise, how many people have tried building houses or doing DIY and completely screwed it up or injured themselves thinking they could do it just because of some Youtube videos. Be realistic here. You are implying people can and should do it "if they're brave enough". That is why I asked if you're kidding because of the way you said the above, making it out to be a walk in the park which you only doubled back on after it was challenged. Sometimes it is, but the reasonably technical user base is quite small in the grand scheme of things and sure, sometimes updating a BIOS file manual can be done by the layman. But that is an exception.

How is it Intel's fault if motherboard vendors don't bother updating older boards with the microcode that Intel has release?

I don't feel that you read the article at all, here is the title again for you:

Intel halts microcode patch development for 230+ CPUs

And the key quote from Intel:

...It says that "after a comprehensive investigation of the microarchitectures and microcode capabilities for these products, Intel has determined to not release microcode updates for these products for one or more reasons".

So it is nothing to do with the Mobo manufacturers and everything to do with Intel.

[Corky34]

Oh for crying out loud, here's the "strawman" crap all over again because someone challenged you. Sure i could have been a bit kinder, but I did think your original comment was very blaisé and it irked me that something as critical as a BIOS modification is thrown about so haphazardly.

It's got nothing to do with someone challenging me, i don't treat having a conversation on forums like some sort of computer game where it's all about scoring points.

It was you trying to construct a strawman because you were trying to replace what i said with a different proposition, in case there's any ambiguity you claimed i said "why don't you" when in fact i said "You could always" so either you don't understand the difference between "could" and "why don't you" or you intentional changed the wording so you could change the proposition.

Here's your quote:

A lot of people don't know their expertise, how many people have tried building houses or doing DIY and completely screwed it up or injured themselves thinking they could do it just because of some Youtube videos. Be realistic here. You are implying people can and should do it "if they're brave enough". That is why I asked if you're kidding because of the way you said the above, making it out to be a walk in the park which you only doubled back on after it was challenged. Sometimes it is, but the reasonably technical user base is quite small in the grand scheme of things and sure, sometimes updating a BIOS file manual can be done by the layman. But that is an exception.

Trust me there's no need to remind me what i said, I'm more than capable of remembering what i said.

You see this is why I'm saying you're trying to construct a strawman argument, i did not say "can and should do it" i said it's possible, perhaps you should look up the meaning of the word "could" as you seem to think it means something totally different than what it actually means. Hint: It does not mean "can" or "should" or as you're saying that a non-technical person would find it a walk in the park.

I don't feel that you read the article at all, here is the title again for you:

And the key quote from Intel:

So it is nothing to do with the Mobo manufacturers and everything to do with Intel.

And i don't think you've read anything in this thread, allow me to jog you're memory.

People were saying the issue was motherboard manufactures not wanting to update older boards to which i said people could (you really need to look up what that word means) modify the BIOS file themselves.

[Saracen]

Give it a rest please, guys. Arguing over who's read what and the meaning of "could" is not advancing the thread much.

[Stu C]

Wolfdale Xeon, Yorkfield? who here is still using these? and do not bother telling me lots of people or companies are in their servers, I am aware, I dont need education. all i am asking is for honesty, because i am curious, who here is still using 10 year old hardware? thanks

I'm running a x5650 Xeon in my main rig... quite a few of us still running these.

[Corky34]

If anyone is interested GRC has released a new version of his InSpectre program that now determines and displays whether Intel has produced a microcode update patch for the Spectre vulnerability.