Kernel-memory-leaking Intel processor design flaw forces Linux, Windows redesign - affects security of all modern Intel CPUs
Posted by freedomforall 6 years, 11 months ago to Technology
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Gee, maybe this would've been better if the government managed it, and there was only one choice. Probably still be 8-bit 6502's.
Regarding Intel vs AMD single core, for most uses single core differences are irrelevant. There is no user perceived difference in everyday usage. Most can ignore single core performance differences between cpus (that perform at i3 and above benchmarks) and decide on price and multicore performance (assuming that is a factor in one's anticipated use.) For me that included used computers with i7 or xeon processors instead of newer processors with a 0% to 25% performance advantage at costs 400% higher.
I wonder if AMD is now planning price increases or will attempt gains in market share instead.
SSds are the most noticeable advance in the past 5 years. CPU performance has been stagnant for most people's computer use. They have been improved but the only noticeable results are lighter weight, longer battery life in laptops and tablets, (and much more capable phones.)
Most won't perceive any slowdown resulting from the fix to the OS for this problem unless its due to the servers on the internet being slowed. (It's possible there may be some effects on really low end laptops and tablets if they are used for VHD video playback.)
Of course Windows, through version 10, is not even configurable to use more than about 11GB of memory even if you install it. Which is a good reason to switch to Linux or one of the *BSDs.
The reason I'm asking is that I'm looking to upgrade my setup (dual screen 27" i5 iMac), and trying to decide between a I9 Gaming style PC with Windows or an iMac Pro with VMWare. I do image processing, and seek the wide I/O of the new processors and USB 3.1 buses. SSD, particularly an M.2, is given.
Its from 2011- ergo the low price- but its well designed and memory is about $20-25 per 8Gb stick so if I want more memory its reasonable, too.
Probably not what you need for your work, but adequate for mine, and for less than the cost of a new i5 cpu. Of course, it could go casters up and it only had 30 days warranty;^)
The bug is a technique which lets a program see the memory that it isn't supposed to have access to by using a technique designed to improve performance.
The slow down is by changing the operating system to make the system memory not in the user addressable space but switching back and forth when you do operating system calls will then be slower.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/358249/int...
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...
In my response to Thoritsu above I stated "Most won't perceive any slowdown resulting from the fix to the OS for this problem unless its due to the servers on the internet being slowed. " Most who have bought new computers in the past couple years have excess cpu power of 50% or more almost all the time.
Its all just speculation at this point.
Don't think it effects my laptop, I might have an older intel 64 bit Core i3
Besides, I determined every MS update ruined my last laptop so this one has NEVER been updated by MS and I managed to keep it from being updated to 10...sicking my tong out flapping with my thumbs in my ears and wagging my fingers at them.
I won't let them get their paws on this one...it ain't broke, so don't even try to fix it!
Well, except Trump ;^)
How bout a weather report from the bomb cyclone.
Some of our Minnesota cold is on the way I have heard.
It will be -14 over night again it has been below zero since Xmas eve . That is in the neighborhood of twenty five degrees colder than average for two weeks following the down right cold month of August where we didn't exceed 80.
Next week we will have normal 30/40 degree temps. Wind at work, off the water was brutal!
In Westbrook we got about 8" of snow, cleaned up Thursday afternoon but the wind blew it back and had to clean up again Friday morn.
Inland got 14" of snow.
Need to fill the oil tank again but supplies are low, Food stores low on stock...makes no sense what so ever. This is New England, we are supposed to be hardy and prepared for everything...see what happens when government tells you it's warming when it's not!
Last year wet cool May then 5 weeks hot and dry
July was pretty normal .August was like none I have ever expirienced cloudy and cool normally we will have many nights that don't drop below 78 for low that was around the high for the month with many days a high of 68 or so. I hope David is wrong about the intensification but hope doesn't trump reality. The evidence suggest more and more extreme weather and cooler for the north. Take that you pesky mosquitos.
So yea..wacky weather alright.
Add your own innovation story...
(Might have been George Mitchell.)
The OS workaround isn't really a fix, either - its a workaround for a hardware flaw. Thus the severe performance degradation. Only a new line of chips will really fix the problem.
I can imagine a class action suit against Intel that ends with Intel providing greatly discounted new cpus for all affected parties (and paying a few hundred million to lawyers, of course.) Too bad that such new chips won't fit into old computers so Intel is then rewarded with millions of chipset and mobo sales to OEMs to keep Intel afloat. There has been very little cpu improvement for the average user in the past 6 years - and the Windows operating system has gone backwards in end user functionality for more than 10 years. Now they are better at sharing our private data with our enemies than keeping it safe.
I second the observation about the class action thing. Several of my co-workers were skeptical, but the bar here (pun intended) isn't gross negligence (which requires intent) but merely negligence - a ridiculously low hurdle in most cases as it just relies on what is "reasonable". If I were Intel, I'd be offering up a rebate to everyone who has an affected chip to nip this in the bud before it turns into a lawsuit AND PR nightmare, but that's just me.
Who wants to buy new computers with crippled cpus if a hardware fix is coming soon that can't be applied to existing hardware?
Before Intel can make any offer, they have to fix their chips and prove they offer an advantage over fixes in operating systems.
I haven't seen enough advantage to buying new Intel chips in many years. My recent purchase is a 2011 Dell T5500 (dual xeons, 24gb memory, 2tb hd, etc) that cost less than a new Intel i5 cpu and outperforms all but the most powerful new i7s on multi-core apps. I wouldn't mind $10k in cash given that I have 12 Intel afflicted xeon(4), i5(5), and i7(3) cpus and selling them will be much difficult thanks to Intel. (grin)