NEW EFI Firmware and 2009 Models?

[0488568]

Was not this what 2009 owners where waiting to pop 6 cores Xeons on our machines?

 

[beto2k7]

Not only a new firmware but the firmware to contain the needed micro code to support the westemere processors.

 

[0488568]

Not only a new firmware but the firmware to contain the needed micro code to support the westemere processors.

Doesnt a firmware update mean that everything is erased and rewritten?

 

[beto2k7]

Doesnt a firmware update mean that everything is erased and rewritten?

Doesn't imply it will give a 2009 Pro westemere super powers though. And there's no reason for apple to do this.

 

[nanofrog]

Doesnt a firmware update mean that everything is erased and rewritten?

Not necessarily (dependent on the type of semiconductor used to store the ROM information, but it's usually Flash ROM, which as a type of EEPROM).

Specific code may be all that needs to be replaced, so they may choose to rewrite data for specific addresses on the ROM instead (keeps the .bin file/s smaller, which tends to help the download servers). Flash ROM allows for partial re-writes, and is cheap as well (why they use it).

For example, the firmware in say an Areca RAID card is in 4x different sections, and depending on the user's requirements, may not all need to be updated (i.e. changing BOOT.BIN to EFI.BIN when you want to boot off the card in a Mac Pro, but otherwise nothing else needs to change).

 

[alphaod]

I'm confused when there was a new firmware update.

 

[Cindori]

Doesn't imply it will give a 2009 Pro westemere super powers though. And there's no reason for apple to do this.

this

I'm confused when there was a new firmware update.

and this