Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id S262758AbUCRRAd (ORCPT ); Thu, 18 Mar 2004 12:00:33 -0500 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id S262764AbUCRRAd (ORCPT ); Thu, 18 Mar 2004 12:00:33 -0500 Received: from delerium.kernelslacker.org ([81.187.208.145]:16325 "EHLO delerium.codemonkey.org.uk") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id S262758AbUCRRAb (ORCPT ); Thu, 18 Mar 2004 12:00:31 -0500 Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2004 16:59:52 +0000 From: Dave Jones To: Justin Piszcz Cc: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Subject: Re: Linux Kernel Microcode Question Message-ID: <20040318165952.GA24328@redhat.com> Mail-Followup-To: Dave Jones , Justin Piszcz , linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org References: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: User-Agent: Mutt/1.4.1i Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Content-Length: 1441 Lines: 41 On Thu, Mar 18, 2004 at 04:40:49PM +0000, Justin Piszcz wrote: > My question is, what are the advantages vs disadvantages in updating your > CPU's microcode? It'll fix known problems in the microcode thats in ROM on your CPU. > Is it worth it? In most cases, yes. It's zero cost. You don't waste RAM, as the microcode gets loaded into small RAM areas on the CPU that are otherwise unused. > Does it matter what type of Intel CPU you have? yes. You need at least a Pentium Pro. Also Pentium 4 needs a newer format microcode, which isn't available publically anywhere yet afaik. > Do some CPU's benefit more than others for microcode updates? Some CPUs have more bugs that need fixing than others 8) Additionally some CPUs may not have a newer microcode available than the one that it shipped with in ROM > Can anyone explain reasons to or not to update the CPU microcode? In some cases, your BIOS is doing this transparently already. I've seen instances where moving a CPU between two motherboards has meant that microcode_ctl has done an upgrade on one, and done nothing on the other as its already up to date. If you're already up-to-date, theres no reason to run it. Dave - To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/