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Intel Chips Have Memory Access Design Flaw and Fix Could Lead to Performance Drop

marksatt said:
It isn't clear to me that this is a CPU "bug" so much as an exploitable design-deficiency which given the complexity of modern microprocessors is inevitable. Certainly still bad for Intel, but they aren't the only modern microprocessor affected (ARM64 is too) because the exploit subverts fundamental behaviour of virtual-memory management. I wouldn't overreact and abandon Intel over this given the information to hand.

The performance cost for Kernel Page Table Isolation is to make calling into the kernel more expensive but most GUI applications, like games, perform their work in user-land and call the kernel relatively infrequently.

If everyone's favourite Linux gaming advocate is to be believed the KPTI changes on Linux do not affect games performance which is a better indication of the affect on typical end-user software. The synthetic tests will be absolutely clobbering the I/O and other subsystems which isn’t how GUI applications usually work. Servers, databases etc. do those sorts of things and that is presumably why the kernel maintainers have jumped on this with such gusto.

On Mac it might affect high-end video/audio/etc workflow, but only if FCPX (or whatever is used) makes a *lot* more system calls than your typical game and I'm sceptical of that.
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Really interesting, thanks for that post.
 
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So sad how many people’s reaction is: “well, how is intel going to repay me”.

These computers have worked perfectly well for a decade. Now we have learned of a new vulnerability and it’ll get patched. You know, in the same way that we get better at everything else almost everyday.

Also, people complaining they have to do a software update and listing it as “unwanted”, software updates are simply a mandatory part of the experience of internet connected devices. Saying that it’s unwanted is like saying you don’t want to pay keep paying for electricity to run the computer. Sorry, but that was a given responsibility you assumed when you bought bought an internet connected device.

People’s reactions to these imperfections are far more gross than the fact that these products aren’t built perfectly.
 
When did NSA start to exploit this 'feature'? Or were they there all along? A decade and more worth of intelligence data from every part of the world where Intel based computers are sold. LOL!
 
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I wonder what the fallout will be in the enterprise. Will all CPU hardware upgrades be put on hold for a year or 2 until a new post bug Intel chip comes out? Why upgrade a SQL server if it will automatically take a 30% performance hit?.

On the consumer level, why buy a new MacBook Pro or iMac..wait till next year or the year after..it will be what? at least 40% faster post patch...This could really hurt the PC/MAC/Server world and every industry that relies on it.
 
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I'm not holding my breath waiting for Intel to correct this defect in my 2010 vintage MacBook Pro.
 
macsrcool1234 said:
yea, because photoshop is totally going to tax a cpu more than synthetic load.....
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That's the point. It be good to see what the real world impact is going to be for end users. We can start to see data centres will be impacted but not end users.
 
getalot681 said:
Wow it's absolutely hilarious to watch all the arm-chair computer experts on these forums jump to conclusions. Similarly poor form on MR to post this to front-page until more info is officially released. Based on the info floating around in the last few hours, there appears to be minimal impact (if none) to the majority of normal users, including gamers. Albeit on linux, gaming results pre/post are basically identical with no impact:

https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=x86-PTI-Initial-Gaming-Tests

But go ahead everyone jump to conclusions and complain before you even know what you are dealing with.

Perhaps those in the big boy cloud server world will have an issue on their hands, but at initial glance the majority of users will see zero impact so let's just wait and see how this thing plays out.
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And for some games, it actually improved frame rate speeds. Interesting.
 
Northgrove said:
Up to 30% CPU performance drop is absolutely mind blowing.
That it's been in effect for a decade undetected similarily so.

I'd be surprised if Macs weren't similarly impacted as it seems this one is on such a fundamental level that it becomes OS independent.
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That's not how I read the article. The FIX causes a 30% drop in performance. If the kernel isn't being isolated, the CPU doesn't suffer.
 
Guidonculous said:
So sad how many people’s reaction is: “well, how is intel going to repay me”.

These computers have worked perfectly well for a decade. Now we have learned of a new vulnerability and it’ll get patched. You know, in the same way that we get better at everything else almost everyday.

Also, people complaining they have to do a software update and listing it as “unwanted”, software updates are simply a mandatory part of the experience of internet connected devices. Saying that it’s unwanted is like saying you don’t want to pay keep paying for electricity to run the computer. Sorry, but that was a given responsibility you assumed when you bought bought an internet connected device.

People’s reactions to these imperfections are far more gross than the fact that these products aren’t built perfectly.
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Unless you JUST bought a new computer with intels promised specs only to have it downgraded in performance instantly. What then? Did you get your money worth?
 
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I really want to see some more details here before making any judgements. These articles are all filled with nothing but innuendo that sure makes for some panicked clicks, but isn't backed up by any evidence. We see lots of weasel wording like could lead to performance hits of up to 30%. Is that one theoretical instance of running one special unicorn process while one set of instructions is sent to the CPU of the world's largest SQL server? Who knows?
 
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I'm not even concerned about my own personal machines. Think about the millions of computers around the globe holding sensitive info. It's not likely all of the affected computers will be patched. Implications could be massive. Like a digital oil spill.
 
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I can only stumble in awe thinking about people that purchased the iMac Pro last month.
 
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Guidonculous said:
So sad how many people’s reaction is: “well, how is intel going to repay me”.

These computers have worked perfectly well for a decade. Now we have learned of a new vulnerability and it’ll get patched. You know, in the same way that we get better at everything else almost everyday.

Also, people complaining they have to do a software update and listing it as “unwanted”, software updates are simply a mandatory part of the experience of internet connected devices. Saying that it’s unwanted is like saying you don’t want to pay keep paying for electricity to run the computer. Sorry, but that was a given responsibility you assumed when you bought bought an internet connected device.

People’s reactions to these imperfections are far more gross than the fact that these products aren’t built perfectly.
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Can I sell you a car and take away 30% of its horse power from you? This is what happened to Volkswagon. Don't be a corporate apologist.
 
Sounds to me me that since CPUs are getting to the point that common users will hardly ever need to upgrade their systems due to having enough power for menial tasks, companies like Apple and Intel are taking it upon themselves to push users into new purchases.

This is straight up fraud, and it needs to be pointed out that way.
 
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We laughed at the time and said it's not possible, but an Intel-less future for Apple can't come soon enough. iPad Pro gives a glimpse of what is possible with ARM CPU's running on Apple hardware. Time to make ARM based MacBook's a reality sooner rather than later?
 
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