What is "Update CPU microcode" about??

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ben Miller
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Ben Miller

I've come accross this in new bios releases' version history Read Me's
from ASUS recently:

"Update CPU microcode"

What is this supposed to mean? Does it pertain to the microcode in a
Pentium for e.g.?? (Didn't know a cpu microcode was anything but
circuit-coded!! - then again, I did my processor architecture courses
back in the '80s... :-( ).

TIA
Ben
 
Ben said:
I've come accross this in new bios releases' version history Read Me's
from ASUS recently:

"Update CPU microcode"

What is this supposed to mean? Does it pertain to the microcode in a
Pentium for e.g.??
Click to expand...

Pentium Pro and later Intel CPUs have uploadable microcode. When a new
processor (stepping) is released, the BIOS needs to be updated in order
to have the necessary microcode patches (which can contain workarounds
for errata and the like). On a side note, Windows 2000 and later M$
operating systems have a microcode update device that loads the
microcode if not done by the BIOS.

Stephan
 
Ben said:
hmmm... *very* interesting.
Is the uploaded microcode preserved in the processor once, say,
severed from the main board? (i.e. how is the microcode kept in the
processor? volatile ram? eeprom?)
Click to expand...

Given that the microcode must be re-uploaded on each bootup, I'd say
volatile. You may be able to find something at developer.intel.com.

Stephan
 
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