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Flaws In Intel Processors Quietly Patched

Posted by kdawson on from the probably-broke-drm dept.

Nom du Keyboard writes "According to this article in The Inquirer and this Microsoft Knowledge Base article, a fix for some significant problems in many of Intel's most recent processors has been quietly released — by whom is not clear. Patches are available on Microsoft's site. Affected processors include Core 2 Duo E4000/E6000, Core 2 Quad Q6600, Core 2 Xtreme X6800, XC6700, and XC6800. Details on just what has been fixed are scanty (it's called a 'reliability update'), however, it's probably more important than either Intel or Microsoft is openly admitting." There is no indication that Apple users are affected.

7 of 311 comments (clear)

  1. Intel Macs not affected? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    There is no indication that Apple users are affected.

    What, magical pixie faries fixed the Intels in Macs? How could they not be affected?

    1. Re:Intel Macs not affected? by shird · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I would guess the bug affects some Ring0 OS type of service/instruction (such as switching in and out of protected mode, paging, faults etc) which MacOS doesn't use. Hence the patch is part of the OS. I speculate that its a workaround in the OS rather than a patch to the actual CPU.

      --
      I.O.U One Sig.
  2. Re:flash the CPU Microcode - YIKES! by andreyw · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Uh, read the fine documentation. Microcode updates don't survice power-off. Nevermind that the microcode is a blackbox format, dependent on the chip and likely with a bajillion signatures the silicon checks.

  3. Slashdot readers and microcode by mrsteveman1 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    After reading this thread its amazing to me how many Slashdot readers don't know how microcode works, making broad statements about how patching a processor is impossible without an EEPROM burner, or using a DOS boot disk.

  4. Asleep at the wheel by edwardpickman · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What's up with the Moderators? I constantly see posts that say the exact opposite thing both modded Informative or Insightful. We need a category "Incorrect". If the Moderators don't know the correct answer they should refrain from moderating either Insightful or Informative. It may be informing but the post is informing people with incorrect information.

  5. Re:my 1.9432534656 cents worth... by Poltras · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It's not like windows couldn't mess with your machine anyway. If you don't trust your operating system, how can you trust your whole system.

    --
    Of Code And Men
  6. Re:Ooops, I'm the blind one by afaik_ianal · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Given the level of secrecy that Intel and Microsoft are giving to the nature of the bug, I still think that DRM is the true culprit.


    And given that I have no evidence either way, it must be the fairies. What kind of an argument is that? If they were being so secretive to hide the nature of the patches, why would they go and label them in the fricking file names?

    Isn't it more plausible that the file names have the word "genuine" in them because like many patches, they're only available to activated windows boxes, and that it's just some random bug in the microcode being fixed?

    I think you've had the tinfoil hat on a little bit too long.