Meltdown and Spectre (Variant 2) - silicon fix

[BTayl7]

Hi,

How can we tell which 8th Gen processors include the silicon fix?

This page from March 15, 2018 ( https://newsroom.intel.com/editorials/advancing-security-silicon-level/) states

"we are making changes to our hardware design to further address the other two. We have redesigned parts of the processor to introduce new levels of protection through partitioning that will protect against both Variants 2 and 3" ... "These changes will begin with our next-generation Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors (code-named Cascade Lake) as well as 8th Generation Intel® Core™ processors expected to ship in the second half of 2018."

[idata]

Hello Brian4847

Thank you for joining the community. I understand you are looking for information about the silicon fix on the Intel® 8th generation processors, let me try to help you with the following link about Facts about Security Research and Intel® Products (https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/architecture-and-technology/facts-about-side-channel-analysis-and-intel-products.html https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/architecture-and-technology/facts-about-side-channel-analysis-and-intel-products.html) were you could find general information about spectre and meltdown, I also recommend to keep monitoring Intel's newsroom for updates on this topic. Regards,Leonardo C.

[MGorb1 · Accepted solution]

Currently on sale there isn't any Intel CPU which have mitigation against Spectre or Meltdown vulnerabilities in silicon.

[n_scott_pearson]

If you are asking for hard dates when these processors are available, Intel Customer Support is not authorized to discuss unreleased products or release schedules, so you won't be getting an answer here. Watch the links Leonardo provided for updates...

...S

[BTayl7]

The original article states a silicon file for "8th Generation Intel® Core™ processors expected to ship in the second half of 2018"

Only a single 8th Gen Core CPU has been launched in 2018 H2 (as shown here https://ark.intel.com/# @PanelLabel122139)

As such only the "Intel® Core™ i3-8100H Processor" could potentially have the fix, but its unclear

This processor ( https://ark.intel.com/products/149160/Intel-Core-i3-8100H-Processor-6M-Cache-3_00-GHz) lists a number of features under "Security & Reliability" but doesn't seam to state either way if a fix is in place.

If Intel truly intend to be open with the public they should add an extra item to the "Security & Reliability" section stating which variants of Spectre and/or meltdown effect the processor.

I am not after hard dates (2018 H2 is good enough), but I want to know which processors include the fix (by the looks of it currently none), this could be addressed by the extra information being added to the "Security & Reliability" which I would use when making my next purchase.

Thanks for the feedback so far, however theirs one comment "That was just a lie to calm down people".

Could this be expanded on as as seen no foundation for this comment anywhere and wondered what facts this is based on.

[MGorb1]

Brian4847, don't be impatient. If Intel releases CPU with Meltdown mitigation in hardware then it will be surely announces as such. From what I've heard their model numbers will probably start with 9.

[BTayl7]

Hi,

Sorry but I am totally confused by the statement "don't be impatient", I think I must of come across wrong as thats not what to intended to suggest.

As stated I was happy with the broad time scales they have given ("I am not after hard dates (2018 H2 is good enough)").

All I asked for is Intel make the information available in the processor information pages such as https://ark.intel.com/products/149160/Intel-Core-i3-8100H-Processor-6M-Cache-3_00-GHz https://ark.intel.com/products/149160/Intel-Core-i3-8100H-Processor-6M-Cache-3_00-GHz

I nearly made the mistake of purchasing an 8th gen processor instead of the cheaper 7th gen for the purpose of getting this extra security and I just want it to be clear to other people that none of the current processors have the extra protection so they don't repeat the mistake I nearly made.

[idata]

"we are making changes to our hardware design to further address the other two. "

That was just a lie to calm down people. Guess why the Intel CEO """resigned""" aka was fired. Obviously not for the official reason. There wont be any silicon fixes for the next 2-4 years to come.

[n_scott_pearson]

Let's be clear: You are correct that there have been no announcements regarding shorter-term silicon changes to address Meltdown. But, what this quote is referring to are the silicon changes being made to address Spectre Variants 2 and 3. These are supposed to appear later this year...

...S

[idata]

All just... NO. No... No. No... There WONT be a fix for the next 2-3 years.

"upcoming" 9th CPUs are just a "copy pasta" refresh of same architecture, no change.

Intel announced "silently" today, that 10nm server CPUs arent coming until MID 2020!!! MID 2020!!!

The """fix""" for CPUs coming in the next 1-2 years mostly will just mean an included MicroCode update, nothing more. No silicon fix.