[WARNING] Intel: We now won't ever patch Spectre variant 2 flaw in these chips

[Porthos]

https://www.zdnet.com/article/intel-we-now-wont-ever-patch-spectre-variant-2-flaw-in-these-chips/

List
https://newsroom.intel.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2018/04/microcode-update-guidance.pdf

 

[fencepost]

I haven't kept up on obsolete Xeon processor numbers, but this looks like what they're not going to be patching is Core 2 (Duo, Quad, Extreme) and some of the first-generation i7 models, which I suspect were mostly bought by people looking for overclocking, etc. I was afraid they were going to drop more of the first-generation i3/5/7, but I can keep hobbling along on my trusty T510 with an i5-540M for a little longer.

If you have Core 2 systems still out there, perhaps it's time to discuss upgrades with those clients.

Edit: or customers using 8+ year old high-end i7s with 130 watt TDP.

 

[phaZed]

If you have Core 2 systems still out there, perhaps it's time to discuss upgrades with those clients.

If not because it is simply "time" - be aware that only quad-core processors are affected in the Core 2 series. The vulnerability requires two cores to be dedicated to the task, leaving other cores available for exploit. It should not affect dual core systems. That's what it looks like, anyways (For the SpectrePrime attack). EDIT: Maybe not, Those 1st gen Core2's might very well be vuln. Hard to tell from the press releases.

Here is a listing of the affected processors:

CPU families that won't be updated include Bloomfield, Clarksfield, Gulftown, Harpertown Xeon C0, Harpertown Xeon E0, Jasper Forest, Penryn/QC, SoFIA 3GR, Wolfdale C0 and M0, Wolfdale E0 and R0, Wolfdale Xeon X0, Wolfdale Xeon E0, Yorkfield, and Yorkfield Xeon.

Bloomfield:


Clarksfield:


Gulftown:


Harpertown:


Jasper Forest:
Too many to list - XEON processors from 2006-2008
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xeon#C3500/C5500-series_"Jasper_Forest"

Penryn/QC:

 

[phaZed]

SoFIA:


Wolfdale C0 and M0:



Wolfdale Xeon X0:
Not found! Is this Wolfdale-CL Xeon 31x0?


Yorkfield, and Yorkfield Xeon: