Windows 10: New Intel Microcode for Spectre V3a, V4 & L1TF Gets Released

FYI the os microcode isn't different from the bios microcode, its just a binary blob that gets loaded , can be done by the bios or the os. you could insert this new microcode into the bios if you wanted too.

 

Hmmm I'm not sure I believe that. BIOS updates have microcode updates in them, but then OS updates do too, so I believe you require both.

 

your belief is incorrect.

 

the actual microcode is the same (the binary blob that is loaded), however updates to the os to use those features are a different thing,

 

I am not disabling HT, so i do hope these patchs arnt doing the same thing the linix patchs did before they would pulled

 

MS will most likely provide an update for Haswell-E sooner or later, but I keep looking for an updated "Linux Processor Microcode Data File" on Intel's website so I can patch my BIOS straight away.

 

Correct. That's why I check the list to make sure my BIOS ucode is updated to the latest. I'm good for this round as this one was already published and a BIOS update. What happens on some platforms is if you have an ucode older on your BIOS is some motherboards, overclocking via the BIOS and even intel's own Extreme Tuning tool won't work.

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/27776/Linux-Processor-Microcode-Data-File

 

Yes, since Asus already showed how much they support X99 mainboards, with only two of them getting BIOS updates by the vendor, the rest being ignored (including the Rampage 5 Extreme, one would think the "flagship" mainboard of X99). Hence, I don't believe they will have ANY updates to offer this time around too.

Uhm Broadwell is the node shrink of Haswell, so it's actually more Haswell than Skylake, or am I wrong here? They are just cutting back on support for older hardware to get people to buy new stuff, but this time around I won't be going Intel anymore, especially after all of this Meltdown / Spectre was handled. After a year I still haven't been able to get all the updates for Haswell-E, which is actually ridiculous in my personal opinion. But my wallet's going to show what I think of it.

 

The reason why we have two delivery mechanisms for the same microcode updates now is that motherboard manufacturers at large are bad at both creating and delivering UEFI/BIOS updates (the traditional way of doing microcode updates), so the updates are being done from the OS too, to cover up for the motherboard manufacturers' inability to get the job done.

But, as others pointed out, there are also patches to the OS itself (different KB) relating to these same problems. Ie, having the latest microcode (however you got it) + OS patches is what is needed.

 

No, its really quite the same. There is only one microcode, and you can update it at various times. Either the BIOS updates it during boot, or the OS can update it - also during boot, but obviously later then the BIOS.

The CPU cannot "save" new microcode, so everytime you turn it off its gone again, hence the BIOS or the OS need to re-load it every startup.

 

More performance degradation incoming.

 

Yes, and the clear advantage to a bios update including the microcode patches is that you don't have have reapply the Windows patches every time you change OS versions--and the bios protection is good no matter what OS you decide to run--also works for dual-booting with Linux, etc. I see Windows patches for this sort of thing as a stop-gap, el-cheapo fix. It's also a bit strange, since Intel in a statement not long ago (I read it here) stated that these so-called "new" variants of Spectre were already taken care of under their existing Spectre fixes. So, either that wasn't actually the case or else these Windows patches are placebos being distributed to ward off class-action sue-happy lawyers.

 

KB4465065 I install this then what?

 

im on kabylake and z170