5 ms·

Firmware often decreases the quality of life. See Intel remote management/backdoor mechanism for example.

• pca006132 4y ago
  They can probably implement something similar directly in the silicon. It doesn't have to be software.
  • sylware 4y ago
    Ofc, it could be indeed 100% silicon... but for very complex hardware like GPUs, better to have some jingle software room in order to be able to fix "complexity bugs".
  • trasz 4y ago
    Implement the entire TCP/IP stack in silicon, as a backdoor? Nah.
• ElectricalUnion 4y ago
  > Firmware often decreases the quality of life. See Intel remote management/backdoor mechanism for example. IME is a bad example here. That's an entire upgradeable MINIX OS embedded in your system - if it was really firmware, Intel would not be able to update it, or you be able to neuter it.