FYI: Warning of possible performance loss in Intel CPUs

[Skybird03]

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/01/02/intel_cpu_design_flaw/

 

A fundamental design flaw (a Kernel memory vulnerability) in Intel chips of the past ten years has caused a security vulnerability at the very lowest, most basic and most hidden level of the architecture that Intel cannot fix by themselves. The workaround is that operation systems, both Windows and Linux, need to apply rewrites for the Kernel that will soon be distributed via the OS' usual patch distribution channels. The fix comes at a hefty cost for some, older Intel chips may be threatened to lose up to 30% of performance, with newer chips said to get away with lower losses, as low as 5% - but a loss nevertheless.

The Linux fix seems to also adress AMD chips, but it is unclear to me whether that is due to a newly revealed weakness in AMD chips as well, or is just a precautionary measure.

If in the coming weeks you observe a loss in performance in your systems, this likely is the explanation.

 

A reply to my warning in another forum claims the issue affects producitvity work more than gaming.

Edited January 3, 2018 by Skybird03

[Rotareneg]

http://www.steelbeasts.com/topic/11952-extraordinarily-bad-bug-in-intel-cpu-memory-management/

 

[Skybird03]

Oh. Credits to you.

 

Woody's site?

[Rotareneg]

Here's the official technical details on the exploits: https://meltdownattack.com/

 

There's actually two of them, Meltdown is the one that's Intel specific, Spectre effects almost all modern CPUs.

Edited January 3, 2018 by Rotareneg