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> Thanks to Pureboot, the Intel Management Engine (ME) on the processor is disabled: this controversial microcode component, supposed to optimize x86 machine co
by als0 4y ago
> Thanks to Pureboot, the Intel Management Engine (ME) on the processor is disabled: this controversial microcode component, supposed to optimize x86 machine code inside the CPU
The author has confused two things here, which are not related. The ME is not microcode, it is a special processor inside the PCH, and is supposed to provide remote management services. Whereas the Intel microcode is a totally different thing - it is an updatable part of the main CPU itself and is used for fixing performance issues, errata, or security issues like Spectre.
- myself248 4y agoAre they not both types of microcode? Just one referred to as Intel Microcode™ which is what they want you to think of as microcode, and the other _also_ being code that executes within the chip outside the user's view, which Intel doesn't refer to as Intel Microcode™ but which still meets the dictionary definition thereof?