Spacedust
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« on: January 27, 2018, 11:32:27 PM » |
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Apple claims Macs are safe under macOS, but how about Windows? inSpectre reports under Windows 7 on my Mac Pro 5,1: Spectre & Meltdown Vulnerability and Performance Status
Vulnerable to Meltdown: NO Vulnerable to Spectre: YES! Performance: SLOWER If I disable this Meltdown patch I've got instantly about 13-15% more CPU power! To patch Spectre under Windows we need another firmware (EFI) update which should be released at least for Mac Pro 5,1.
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Squishy Tia
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« Reply #1 on: January 28, 2018, 06:09:43 AM » |
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I don't see how that machine wouldn't be vulnerable to Meltdown as the CPU still does speculative processing even in Windows via Boot Camp. I would say that inSpectre doesn't know how to handle the Macs and their proprietary EFI configurations.
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Spacedust
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« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2018, 12:41:38 PM » |
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You're referring to Spectre. Meltdown can be patched via kernel update and that was done via simple Windows update. Without Meltdown patch:  With Meltdown patch - performance drop is about 13%: 
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Spacedust
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« Reply #3 on: February 27, 2018, 03:36:15 PM » |
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Latest update from Intel shows we are now in Pre-Beta stage: Westmere EP, WS Intel® Xeon® Processor E5603, E5606, E5607, E5620, E5630, E5640, E5645, E5649 Intel® Xeon® Processor L5609, L5618, L5630, L5638, L5640 Intel® Xeon® Processor W3670, W3680 Intel® Xeon® Processor X5647, X5650, X5660, X5667, X5670, X5672, X5675, X5677, X5680, X5687, X5690, X5698 https://newsroom.intel.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2018/02/microcode-update-guidance.pdf
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Spacedust
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« Reply #4 on: March 08, 2018, 04:07:12 PM » |
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mysticalos
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« Reply #5 on: March 21, 2018, 05:59:35 AM » |
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the problem is, even if you do update micro, you'd probably have to hack macOS, since the software fix simply just always runs. It doesn't check "hey do I need to run" as far as I know
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Spacedust
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« Reply #6 on: March 21, 2018, 06:57:47 PM » |
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It would probably only work under Windows when installed manually or Apple would need to release a new BIOS (firmware) so it would be a permanent fix.
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Spacedust
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« Reply #7 on: March 30, 2018, 06:23:56 PM » |
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I just tested manual upgrading the microcode today on some Core i3 4th gen series system which didn't got BIOS update since 2015 and it worked 
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h9826790
Jr. Member

Offline
Posts: 58
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« Reply #8 on: March 30, 2018, 10:01:09 PM » |
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The 10.13.4 Full installer contain a firmware update for the cMP 5,1. The version now is MP51.0085.B00. Not sure if this update is related to Meltdown and Spectre. 
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mysticalos
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« Reply #9 on: March 31, 2018, 12:41:08 AM » |
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Doubt it. it's simply more likely an updated APFS patch since they updated the efi driver for it in this update
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Spacedust
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« Reply #10 on: March 31, 2018, 07:49:44 PM » |
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Amazing find! My normal update did not update the firmware. I need to download full installer to get the latest firmware now.
Then I will switch back to Windows again and report. Intel din't release patches for our old Xeons yet, but maybe Apple is providing some betas at least.
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Spacedust
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« Reply #11 on: March 31, 2018, 08:24:58 PM » |
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Damn, they still haven't fix that bug with updating firmware - native Mac Pro 5,1 simply does not shutdown after clicking Shutdown button in installer. I need to install 10.9.5 on a clean drive just to make firmware update.
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lowrider
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« Reply #12 on: March 31, 2018, 08:34:20 PM » |
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^^^^What do you mean? I've updated my FW 3 times since HS was first introduced. The last update was yesterday to FW MP51.0085.B00. Are you using a GPU with a Mac EFI?
Lou
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Rominator
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« Reply #13 on: March 31, 2018, 08:44:11 PM » |
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Yeah, I doubt Apple would expect everyone to keep a 10.9.5 install handy.
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Before asking a question, check your "Personal Settings" and be sure that you have "Brain Services" set to "On".
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Spacedust
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« Reply #14 on: March 31, 2018, 10:58:37 PM » |
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I've used standard flashed R9 280 (aka HD7950) for update and Mavericks did the trick. Spectre is still unpatched but firmware (BIOS) is now dated 02/02/2018  Also please note it's a native 5,1 (2010) made at the beginning of 2012. Maybe it only works well on 5,1 machines with Mid-2012 serial number.
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« Last Edit: March 31, 2018, 11:28:48 PM by Spacedust »
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