Arch Linux

pogeymanz

Member

Registered: 2008-03-11

Posts: 1,020

What is the package "intel-ucode"?

It's description says "Microcode update files for Intel CPUs."

The upstream URL links to intel's site where it says it's an update for all intel CPUs. What does microcode do and why does it need to be updated?

Should I install this?

SolarBoyMatt

Member

Registered: 2012-01-07

Posts: 263

Re: What is the package "intel-ucode"?

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Microcode

Like the article says, it's basically to update the processor's firmware. I don't really know a whole lot about the process, but I doubt you'd really need to update it. The option's there if you want to, if nothing else.

Last edited by SolarBoyMatt (2012-07-06 19:13:58)

Leonid.I

Member

From: Aethyr

Registered: 2009-03-22

Posts: 999

Re: What is the package "intel-ucode"?

It's description says "Microcode update files for Intel CPUs."

The upstream URL links to intel's site where it says it's an update for all intel CPUs. What does microcode do and why does it need to be updated?

Should I install this?

Yes. You'll have to install corresponding packages only. Explicitly loading the "microcode" module is not necessary since linux 3.4. You can check whether the microcode is applied by running

grep -i microcode /proc/cpuinfo /var/log/dmesg.log

CPU microcode is similar to a firmware. The distinction comes about when you update it: instead of permanently flashing, modern OSes can load new CPU firmware at boot time. The packages {amd,intel}-ucode contain the updated microcode from respective manufacturers.

Your CPU may already have the newest firmware, in which case the microcode update (and package) will do nothing. However, it is still useful to keep the package around just in case a firmware update gets released by Intel/AMD.

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