Skip to main content

Intel requests hardware partners to halt Meltdown patches due to reboot issue

Intel is now requesting hardware and software partners to stop distributing updates related to the company’s “fix” for the recently discovered “Meltdown” security flaw. Intel began rolling out firmware-based patches at the beginning of December but users are reporting a high number of system reboots stemming from the Meltdown patching. After investigating the issues, Intel said it found the root cause … but only for its fourth (Haswell) and fifth-generation (Broadwell) processors. 

“Over the weekend, we began rolling out an early version of the updated solution to industry partners for testing, and we will make a final release available once that testing has been completed,” the company states. 

Recommended Videos

Because of the high reboot rate, Intell suggests that PC manufacturers, cloud service providers, software vendors, and even users forget that the previous Meltdown fix even existed, and wait for Intel to produce another version. If you already made a change on a software level, revert back to a previous release, or in the case of Windows 10, rewind to a previous restore point. For motherboards updated with the current fix, hang tight and tolerate the reboots, or flash it with older, stable firmware. 

“We ask that our industry partners focus efforts on testing early versions of the updated solution so we can accelerate its release. We expect to share more details on timing later this week,” the company adds. “We continue to urge all customers to vigilantly maintain security best practice and for consumers to keep systems up to date.” 

As previously reported, “Meltdown” is one of two security flaws recently discovered in all processor designs. The problem resides in how a processor will “think ahead” or predict when it’s executing multiple tasks. It stores data derived from multiple programs, services, and the operating system in the PC’s memory to help plot its next move. Think of a bank vault with lots of little storage boxes, and Google discovered a way to secretly sneak into that vault. 

Intel provides a list of affected processor families here, but the problem lies within chips dating back to 2011 starting with the company’s second-generation “Sandy Bridge” processors. If you have an Intel-based desktop or laptop, you fall under the Meltdown umbrella. But you can quickly determine the generation of your installed processor by identifying the number immediately after the hyphen in its name. For example, the Core i7-6820HK is a sixth-generation chip as indicated by the “6” in the model number. 

Outside the current reboot issue, Intel acknowledged that users may experience a slight drop in performance given the new hoops its processors must jump through to keep data safe. More specifically, Intel said that the “performance impact should not be significant for average computer users.” In recent testing, the company’s sixth-generation chips saw a higher performance hit than its seventh- and eighth-generation processors. 

Since the new patch is undergoing tests in labs at Intel’s hardware and software partners, there is no sign when the final versions will be ready for mass consumption, or how they will impact day-to-day use. 

Kevin Parrish
Kevin started taking PCs apart in the 90s when Quake was on the way and his PC lacked the required components. Since then…
The robot takeover comes another step closer — at Amazon
An Amazon robot working inside one of the company's warehouses.

Amazon is close to having more robots operating inside its warehouses than humans after the e-commerce giant announced this week that it now has more than a million robots working at its facilities around the world.

Over the years, Amazon has spent billions of dollars on the development and deployment of warehouse-based robots, which handle an array of tasks once performed by human workers.

Read more
This Lenovo ThinkPad laptop is over $1,400 off — hurry while stocks last!
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 Intel laptop on a white background.

Now's an excellent time to take advantage of laptop deals from Lenovo, which has slashed the prices of a wide range of devices for its Black Friday in July sale. Lenovo's ThinkPad laptops are up to 45% off, and here's one of the most interesting offers available with such a discount — the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 5 at $1,440 off its estimated value of $3,199, so you'll only have to pay $1,759. That's an excellent price for this fantastic productivity tool, but you're going to have to push forward with your purchase as soon as possible because stocks may run out at any moment.

BUY NOW

Read more
Early Prime Day deal: Samsung’s 27-inch Odyssey G3 at its annual low price
Samsung Odyssey G3 gaming monitor on desk with keyboard and headset.

If you're ready to upgrade your monitor, this Samsung deal over at Amazon just might be your best bet. The 27-inch version of Samsung's Odyssey G3 is $130 right now, a full $100 off its regular $230 price and its lowest price of the year. It's a part of early Prime Day deals and a good sampling of what we can expect for the shopping holiday, which officially lands on July 8th. Tap the button below to see it for yourself or keep reading to see why we like this deal and why this should be your next monitor.

Buy Now

Read more