#microcode — Public Fediverse posts

@Passerby6497 @8uurg #imho people believe #computers are #god like perfect machines, free of any #errors nothing could be further from the truth, basically every #cpu because of its complexity has #errors or even #security #flaws that need to be corrected afterwards via #software #microcode #updates

@Passerby6497 @8uurg #imho people believe #computers are #god like perfect machines, free of any #errors nothing could be further from the truth, basically every #cpu because of its complexity has #errors or even #security #flaws that need to be corrected afterwards via #software #microcode #updates yes current #llm #ai does not understand anything? It is just very good at guessing the next token to output?

Oh great, another blog post about #microcode in a 40-year-old chip 🥱. Because who wouldn't want to dive into the riveting world of register exchanges from 1980? 🤓 Next up: a thrilling exposé on the history of the abacus—brace yourselves! 🧮✨
https://www.righto.com/2026/05/microcode-inside-intel-8087-floating.html #blogpost #vintagechips #techhistory #registerexchanges #abacus #HackerNews #ngated

Oh great, another blog post about #microcode in a 40-year-old chip 🥱. Because who wouldn't want to dive into the riveting world of register exchanges from 1980? 🤓 Next up: a thrilling exposé on the history of the abacus—brace yourselves! 🧮✨
https://www.righto.com/2026/05/microcode-inside-intel-8087-floating.html #blogpost #vintagechips #techhistory #registerexchanges #abacus #HackerNews #ngated

Microcode inside the Intel 8087 floating-point chip: register exchange

https://www.righto.com/2026/05/microcode-inside-intel-8087-floating.html

#HackerNews #Microcode #Intel8087 #FloatingPoint #Chip #Technology #RegisterExchange

Microcode inside the Intel 8087 floating-point chip: register exchange

https://www.righto.com/2026/05/microcode-inside-intel-8087-floating.html

#HackerNews #Microcode #Intel8087 #FloatingPoint #Chip #Technology #RegisterExchange

Rather tangential to that, and apocryphal:

When IBM's mainframes were being cloned in the Soviet bloc (into the ES line; I forget if that was when cloning the S/360 itself, or a later architecture like the S/370), they couldn't steal the microcode, so they wrote their own version from scratch.
That ended needing _twice as much memory_ (to store the code) as IBM's version.

#Microcode
#ReverseEngineering

@gloriouscow

Rather tangential to that, and apocryphal:

When IBM's mainframes were being cloned in the Soviet bloc (into the ES line; I forget if that was when cloning the S/360 itself, or a later architecture like the S/370), they couldn't steal the microcode, so they wrote their own version from scratch.
That ended needing _twice as much memory_ (to store the code) as IBM's version.

#Microcode
#ReverseEngineering

@gloriouscow

🚀 Ah, the thrill of resurrecting a 30-year-old #microcode to run all those "essential" DOS games 🎮! What's next? An open-source abacus? 🤔 Classic throwback to when CPUs roamed the earth, and everyone cared deeply about DOS compatibility in 2026. 😂
https://nand2mario.github.io/posts/2026/z386/ #DOSGames #RetroGaming #OpenSource #Nostalgia #HackerNews #ngated

🚀 Ah, the thrill of resurrecting a 30-year-old #microcode to run all those "essential" DOS games 🎮! What's next? An open-source abacus? 🤔 Classic throwback to when CPUs roamed the earth, and everyone cared deeply about DOS compatibility in 2026. 😂
https://nand2mario.github.io/posts/2026/z386/ #DOSGames #RetroGaming #OpenSource #Nostalgia #HackerNews #ngated

z386: An Open-Source 80386 Built Around Original Microcode

https://nand2mario.github.io/posts/2026/z386/

#HackerNews #z386 #open-source #80386 #microcode #retrocomputing #technews

z386: An Open-Source 80386 Built Around Original Microcode

https://nand2mario.github.io/posts/2026/z386/

#HackerNews #z386 #open-source #80386 #microcode #retrocomputing #technews

80386 Microcode Disassembled

https://www.reenigne.org/blog/80386-microcode-disassembled/

#HackerNews #80386 #Microcode #Disassembly #ComputerArchitecture #RetroComputing #TechHistory

80386 Microcode Disassembled

https://www.reenigne.org/blog/80386-microcode-disassembled/

#HackerNews #80386 #Microcode #Disassembly #ComputerArchitecture #RetroComputing #TechHistory

Conditions in the Intel 8087 floating-point chip's microcode

https://www.righto.com/2025/12/8087-microcode-conditions.html

#HackerNews #Intel8087 #FloatingPoint #Microcode #Technology #History #ComputerArchitecture

Conditions in the Intel 8087 floating-point chip's microcode

https://www.righto.com/2025/12/8087-microcode-conditions.html

#HackerNews #Intel8087 #FloatingPoint #Microcode #Technology #History #ComputerArchitecture

Waiting for #AMD to release the RDSEED #microcode fix for the "embedded" #EPYC 4005 series. I think it will be the first time I ever needed or wanted to update my CPU firmware. I know a bit more about it now that I attended the talk about AMD Zen microcode tools at the #39C3.

https://media.ccc.de/v/39c3-the-angry-path-to-zen-amd-zen-microcode-tools-and-insights

https://www.amd.com/en/resources/product-security/bulletin/amd-sb-7055.html

Z8086: Rebuilding the 8086 from Original Microcode

https://nand2mario.github.io/posts/2025/z8086/

#HackerNews #Z8086 #Rebuilding #8086 #Microcode #RetroComputing #Technology #Innovation

Z8086: Rebuilding the 8086 from Original Microcode

https://nand2mario.github.io/posts/2025/z8086/

#HackerNews #Z8086 #Rebuilding #8086 #Microcode #RetroComputing #Technology #Innovation

If you use #btrfs on kernels ranging from 6.12 to 6.19 and get the error:

VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown_block(0,0)

Add the 'btrfs' and 'microcode' hooks to /etc/mkinitcpio.conf via chroot and rerun initramfs generation.

If that doesn't help install `intel-ucode.img` and add it to your grub boot parameters in the initrd list.

If that still doesn't help (happens on Intel 3770k and older) disable #zstd initramfs compression, use gzip instead.

You are welcome

#initramfs #microcode

Courtesy of Eric Rechlin of hpcalc.org, now you can watch a fat ugly guy who says "um" far too often, at HHC 2025 talking about and demonstrating the forthcoming Nonpareil II microcode-level simulation of various HP RPN calculators (currently HP-15C and HP-16C):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eraikEonaJQ

The audience really liked that the graphics is fully scalable, rather than only having integer multiple scaling of a bitmap, in the original Nonpareil.

#hhc2025 #Nonpareil2 #rpn #calculator #microcode

Courtesy of Eric Rechlin of hpcalc.org, now you can watch a fat ugly guy who says "um" far too often, at HHC 2025 talking about and demonstrating the forthcoming Nonpareil II microcode-level simulation of various HP RPN calculators (currently HP-15C and HP-16C):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eraikEonaJQ

The audience really liked that the graphics is fully scalable, rather than only having integer multiple scaling of a bitmap, in the original Nonpareil.

#hhc2025 #Nonpareil2 #rpn #calculator #microcode

At HHC 2025, I learned of the existence of another HP-95C in private hands, which makes four that I know of.

The HP-95C was a desktop scientific programmable printing calculator, with continuous (CMOS) memory but no card reader. It would have been introduced in 1976, positioned between the HP-91 desktop non-programmable printing scientific, and the HP-97 desktop programmable printing scientific with magnetic card reader.
1/
#hhc2025 #rpn #calculator #microcode #simulator

At HHC 2025, I learned of the existence of another HP-95C in private hands, which makes four that I know of.

The HP-95C was a desktop scientific programmable printing calculator, with continuous (CMOS) memory but no card reader. It would have been introduced in 1976, positioned between the HP-91 desktop non-programmable printing scientific, and the HP-97 desktop programmable printing scientific with magnetic card reader.
1/
#hhc2025 #rpn #calculator #microcode #simulator

I just gave an HHC 2025 presentation and demonstration of Nonpareil II, my work--in-progress microcode-level HP calculator simulator, now written in C++20 using the Qt6 toolkit. Compared to the original, it uses vector graphics for smooth scaling over a wide range of window sizes.
#hhc2025 #rpn #calculator #microcode #simulator

I just gave an HHC 2025 presentation and demonstration of Nonpareil II, my work--in-progress microcode-level HP calculator simulator, now written in C++20 using the Qt6 toolkit. Compared to the original, it uses vector graphics for smooth scaling over a wide range of window sizes.
#hhc2025 #rpn #calculator #microcode #simulator

World's first #CPU-level #ransomware can "bypass every freaking traditional technology we have out there" — new #firmware-based attacks could usher in new era of unavoidable ransomware
Beek, #Rapid7's senior director of threat analytics, revealed AMD Zen chip bug gave him idea that highly skilled attacker could in theory "allow those intruders to load unapproved #microcode into the processors, breaking encryption at the hardware level and modifying CPU behavior at will."
https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/worlds-first-cpu-level-ransomware-can-bypass-every-freaking-traditional-technology-we-have-out-there-new-firmware-based-attacks-could-usher-in-new-era-of-unavoidable-ransomware

World's first #CPU-level #ransomware can "bypass every freaking traditional technology we have out there" — new #firmware-based attacks could usher in new era of unavoidable ransomware
Beek, #Rapid7's senior director of threat analytics, revealed AMD Zen chip bug gave him idea that highly skilled attacker could in theory "allow those intruders to load unapproved #microcode into the processors, breaking encryption at the hardware level and modifying CPU behavior at will."
https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/worlds-first-cpu-level-ransomware-can-bypass-every-freaking-traditional-technology-we-have-out-there-new-firmware-based-attacks-could-usher-in-new-era-of-unavoidable-ransomware

https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/11/cpu_ransomware_rapid7/

Spoiler alert: Beek followed through and wrote proof-of-concept code for #ransomware that hides in the computer's #processor. "Of course, we won't release that, but it's fascinating, right?"

This, according to Beek, is the worst-case scenario. "Ransomware at the #CPU level, #microcode alteration, and if you are in the CPU or the #firmware, you will bypass every freaking traditional [anti-malware] technology we have out there."

https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/11/cpu_ransomware_rapid7/

Spoiler alert: Beek followed through and wrote proof-of-concept code for #ransomware that hides in the computer's #processor. "Of course, we won't release that, but it's fascinating, right?"

This, according to Beek, is the worst-case scenario. "Ransomware at the #CPU level, #microcode alteration, and if you are in the CPU or the #firmware, you will bypass every freaking traditional [anti-malware] technology we have out there."

Von #AMD-Lücke inspiriert:

#Forscher warnt vor #Ransomware im #CPU-Microcode

Eine Lücke in #AMD-CPUs ermöglicht manipulative Eingriffe in den #Microcode. Darin eingeschleuste #Ransomware wäre äußerst schwer zu bezwingen.

Eine #Ransomware-Infektion kann für Unternehmen weitreichende Folgen haben, die nicht selten auch in einer Insolvenz münden. Durch geeignete Maßnahmen lassen sich die Risiken für solche #Sicherheitsvorfälle eindämmen.

https://www.golem.de/news/von-amd-luecke-inspiriert-forscher-warnt-vor-ransomware-im-cpu-microcode-2505-196112.html

Von #AMD-Lücke inspiriert:

#Forscher warnt vor #Ransomware im #CPU-Microcode

Eine Lücke in #AMD-CPUs ermöglicht manipulative Eingriffe in den #Microcode. Darin eingeschleuste #Ransomware wäre äußerst schwer zu bezwingen.

Eine #Ransomware-Infektion kann für Unternehmen weitreichende Folgen haben, die nicht selten auch in einer Insolvenz münden. Durch geeignete Maßnahmen lassen sich die Risiken für solche #Sicherheitsvorfälle eindämmen.

https://www.golem.de/news/von-amd-luecke-inspiriert-forscher-warnt-vor-ransomware-im-cpu-microcode-2505-196112.html

🤡 Ah yes, because rewriting #microcode to run #RISC-V on #AMD #CPUs is *definitely* something everyone has on their weekend to-do list. 🛠️ What's next, trying to make a toaster run Crysis? 💡
https://rvspoc.org/en/S2502/ #weekendprojects #techhumor #toastergaming #HackerNews #ngated

🤡 Ah yes, because rewriting #microcode to run #RISC-V on #AMD #CPUs is *definitely* something everyone has on their weekend to-do list. 🛠️ What's next, trying to make a toaster run Crysis? 💡
https://rvspoc.org/en/S2502/ #weekendprojects #techhumor #toastergaming #HackerNews #ngated

Run RISC-V Binaries on AMD Zen-Series CPUs via Microcode Modification

https://rvspoc.org/en/S2502/

#HackerNews #RISC-V #AMD #Microcode #Zen-Series #Binaries #Technology

Run RISC-V Binaries on AMD Zen-Series CPUs via Microcode Modification

https://rvspoc.org/en/S2502/

#HackerNews #RISC-V #AMD #Microcode #Zen-Series #Binaries #Technology

Undocumented 8086 instructions, explained by the microcode

https://www.righto.com/2023/07/undocumented-8086-instructions.html

#HackerNews #Undocumented #8086 #instructions #microcode #technology #computing #retro #programming

Undocumented 8086 instructions, explained by the microcode

https://www.righto.com/2023/07/undocumented-8086-instructions.html

#HackerNews #Undocumented #8086 #instructions #microcode #technology #computing #retro #programming

Notes on the Pentium's Microcode Circuitry

https://www.righto.com/2025/03/pentium-microcde-rom-circuitry.html

#HackerNews #Pentium #Microcode #Microelectronics #ComputerArchitecture #TechHistory

Notes on the Pentium's Microcode Circuitry

https://www.righto.com/2025/03/pentium-microcde-rom-circuitry.html

#HackerNews #Pentium #Microcode #Microelectronics #ComputerArchitecture #TechHistory

Extensive Analysis of the Raptor Lake CPU Bug

Intel’s Raptor Lake CPUs, which form part of the 13th and 14th generation Intel Core desktop processor line, were celebrated for their hybrid architecture combining high-performance cores with efficiency cores. However, shortly after their release, a critical bug emerged that has led to system instability and, in some cases, permanent degradation of the affected chips.

Read More: https://machaddr.substack.com/p/extensive-analysis-of-the-raptor

#CPU #Bug #Microcode #Intel #Computer

Extensive Analysis of the Raptor Lake CPU Bug

Intel’s Raptor Lake CPUs, which form part of the 13th and 14th generation Intel Core desktop processor line, were celebrated for their hybrid architecture combining high-performance cores with efficiency cores. However, shortly after their release, a critical bug emerged that has led to system instability and, in some cases, permanent degradation of the affected chips.

Read More: https://machaddr.substack.com/p/extensive-analysis-of-the-raptor

#CPU #Bug #Microcode #Intel #Computer

Breaking Down the AMD Zen Microcode Flaw: Bug Hunters Investigate Signature Validation Issue https://thecyberexpress.com/amd-zen-processor-vulnerability/ #AMDZenprocessorvulnerability #TheCyberExpressNews #AMDZenprocessors #GoogleBugHunters #Vulnerabilities #TheCyberExpress #FirewallDaily #CyberNews #AMDZenCPU #Microcode

Breaking Down the AMD Zen Microcode Flaw: Bug Hunters Investigate Signature Validation Issue https://thecyberexpress.com/amd-zen-processor-vulnerability/ #AMDZenprocessorvulnerability #TheCyberExpressNews #AMDZenprocessors #GoogleBugHunters #Vulnerabilities #TheCyberExpress #FirewallDaily #CyberNews #AMDZenCPU #Microcode

AMD CPU microcode 的簽名漏洞 在 Lobsters 上看到 Google 對上個月 AMD CPU 的 microcode 耕更新漏洞的分析：「Zen and the Art of Microcode Hacking」，看完後發現原來是自己設計出來的簽名驗證導致的... CPU 透過修正 microcode 修正問題算是行之有年的方法，可以在開機後讀進來改變本來設計的行為，也因為這個動作很危險，通常會加上數位簽名的方式確保只有原廠可以改。 AMD 在這邊的設計是用了 RSA 2048 bit 簽名保護，但把整把 RSA public key 放進去驗證會吃太多電晶體，所以這邊只存了 128-bit value 以節省電晶體空間，這邊本來以為是用 MD5 被撞，或是用… https://blog.gslin.org/archives/2025/03/06/12295/amd-cpu-microcode-%e7%9a%84%e7%b0%bd%e5%90%8d%e6%bc%8f%e6%b4%9e/ #algorithm #amd #cmac #cpu #hardware #key #microcode #number #random #rsa #security #vulnerability

AMD CPU microcode 的簽名漏洞 在 Lobsters 上看到 Google 對上個月 AMD CPU 的 microcode 耕更新漏洞的分析：「Zen and the Art of Microcode Hacking」，看完後發現原來是自己設計出來的簽名驗證導致的... CPU 透過修正 microcode 修正問題算是行之有年的方法，可以在開機後讀進來改變本來設計的行為，也因為這個動作很危險，通常會加上數位簽名的方式確保只有原廠可以改。 AMD 在這邊的設計是用了 RSA 2048 bit 簽名保護，但把整把 RSA public key 放進去驗證會吃太多電晶體，所以這邊只存了 128-bit value 以節省電晶體空間，這邊本來以為是用 MD5 被撞，或是用… https://blog.gslin.org/archives/2025/03/06/12295/amd-cpu-microcode-%e7%9a%84%e7%b0%bd%e5%90%8d%e6%bc%8f%e6%b4%9e/ #algorithm #amd #cmac #cpu #hardware #key #microcode #number #random #rsa #security #vulnerability

Zen and the Art of Microcode Hacking:

https://bughunters.google.com/blog/5424842357473280/zen-and-the-art-of-microcode-hacking

#processor #cybersecurity #microcode #microcodehacking #hacking #exploitation

Zen and the Art of Microcode Hacking:

https://bughunters.google.com/blog/5424842357473280/zen-and-the-art-of-microcode-hacking

#processor #cybersecurity #microcode #microcodehacking #hacking #exploitation

🚀🤖 Behold, the 'Zentool' saga: yet another #GitHub repository hiding behind buzzwords like "microcode manipulation" 🙄. Apparently, the secret to CPU security is buried in a README.md file, because who needs actual documentation? 🧐🔐
https://github.com/google/security-research/blob/master/pocs/cpus/entrysign/zentool/README.md #Zentool #microcode #CPUsecurity #techbuzzwords #documentation #HackerNews #ngated

Zentool – AMD Zen Microcode Manipulation Utility — https://github.com/google/security-research/blob/master/pocs/cpus/entrysign/zentool/README.md
#HackerNews #Zentool #AMD #Zen #Microcode #Manipulation #Utility #security #research #GitHub #tech #news

Old man yells at clouds

4, 4, 4, 4, ...

https://m.slashdot.org/story/438589

#MicroCode