Intel and several other processors affected by Memory leak bug

As per researchers there is a memory leak bug affecting several generations of Intel Processors. While the bug is disclosed this week, number of exploits using the memory leak bug are unknown at this time. Microsoft & Several Linux vendors have rushed to release a windows update to mitigate memory leak.

Performance Impact

Part of the patch will cause 5-30% performance degradation of systems and can be noticeable in Server environment. Intel has confirmed this while suggesting this will eventually not be case.

AMD processors are also affected

Initial reports pointed finger on Intel as the only culprit, but Intel came with a press release suggesting the Kernel Memory leak bug affects several devices and processors and not unique to Intel.

You can read Intel’s full press release here –https://newsroom.intel.com/news/intel-responds-to-security-research-findings/

Intel Press Release

Intel and other technology companies have been made aware of new security research describing software analysis methods that, when used for malicious purposes, have the potential to improperly gather sensitive data from computing devices that are operating as designed. Intel believes these exploits do not have the potential to corrupt, modify or delete data.

Recent reports that these exploits are caused by a “bug” or a “flaw” and are unique to Intel products are incorrect. Based on the analysis to date, many types of computing devices — with many different vendors’ processors and operating systems — are susceptible to these exploits.

Intel is committed to product and customer security and is working closely with many other technology companies, including AMD, ARM Holdings and several operating system vendors, to develop an industry-wide approach to resolve this issue promptly and constructively. Intel has begun providing software and firmware updates to mitigate these exploits. Contrary to some reports, any performance impacts are workload-dependent, and, for the average computer user, should not be significant and will be mitigated over time.

Intel is committed to the industry best practice of responsible disclosure of potential security issues, which is why Intel and other vendors had planned to disclose this issue next week when more software and firmware updates will be available. However, Intel is making this statement today because of the current inaccurate media reports.

Check with your operating system vendor or system manufacturer and apply any available updates as soon as they are available. Following good security practices that protect against malware in general will also help protect against possible exploitation until updates can be applied.

Intel believes its products are the most secure in the world and that, with the support of its partners, the current solutions to this issue provide the best possible security for its customers.

Intel Core i5-480M vs i5-2410M Laptop processor comparison

 

Intel i5 series of Processes are placed between i3 and i7, Though Intel may call it mid range CPU,  For most day to day function this is a very powerful high end Processor series.  Compared to processors  two years back,  even i3 series is much more powerful, the i5 takes it a notch.

The second generation i5 processors based on Sandy Bridge Architecture. They bring some of advanced media features, like better media conversion performance, and a whole new concept of  Processor Graphics. With the newer i5, there is on Turbo Boost, which provides increased speed when needed for high processor intensive applications.

Media rendering at 3D and 1080p will be much smoother and Intel Wireless Display to 1080p screens are possible. Overall the i5 2410 is better than the i5-480 or i5-540/i5-560 etc. But is it worth the extra money ?

Dexternights.com

Intel Core i5-2410M Processor Intel Core i5-480M Processor
 
Clock Speed 2.3GHZ 2.66GHz
No of Cores 2 2
Cache 3MB Intel Smart Cache 3MB Intel Smart Cache
64 Bit Yes Yes
System Bus 5 GT/s 2.5GT/s
Fabrication 32 nm 32 nm
Memory Support DDR3 -1066/1333 DDR3 -800/1066
Max Memory
Bandwidth
Architecture Sandy Bridge Arrandale
Graphics Processor Graphics Integrated Graphics
Graphics Base
Frequency
650MHZ 500MHZ
Graphics Output eDP/DP/CRT/HDMI NA
Intel Wireless
Display
Yes No
Intel Anti-Theft
Technology
Yes No
Intel my Wifi
Technology
Yes No
4G WiMax Wireless Yes No

The answers are in the details, the newer processor improves the DDR3 support and also improves the overall processor performance even if the raw clock speed is less. So i5-2410M’s 2.30 GHZ is practically 30% faster than the i5-480M’s 2.67 GHZ. Same goes with the i5-560M and i5-580M processors.

Overall the Second generation i5 series offers more value and features than anything available in previous generation processors. Based on the cost, which is relatively equal always go for i5-2410M when you have a choice.

Below are the CPU benchmarks for popular i5 and i3 Series Mobile processors

Intel Core i5 480M @ 2.67 GHz – 2730
Intel Core i5-2410M @ 2.30 GHz – 3335
Intel Core i5 580M @ 2.67 GHz – 2865
Intel Core i5 560M @ 2.67 GHz – 2694
Intel Core i5 520M @ 2.40 GHz – 2359
Intel Core i5 430M @ 2.27 GHz – 2359
Intel Core i3 550 @ 3.20 GHz – 3091
Intel Core i3-380M @ 2.53 GHZ – 2314
Intel Core i3-2310M @ 2.1 GHZ – 2567

HP Pavilion dv6 and dv7 – A stylish light weight laptop

HP has come out with two different variety of laptops with stylish finish and variant colors.Gone are the days when laptops where made with thick plastics, now you can see various latops with aluminium coated surface specially the cover and palm rest area and other base part of the laptop with magnesium compound. laptops also comes with variant colors.DV6 comes with black cherry, champagne, and Sonoma red and DV7 comes with Espresso Black or optional Moonlight White . Other than than the mettalic finish HP also provides other features like wider screen perfect for HD1 viewing and also options for built in tv tuning

DV6

DV7

Specifications

Screen Width
dv6 comes with 15.6 screen width and dv7 comes with 17.3 screen width

Processor
Asusual user has the option to choose between AMD and Intel processor
But dv6 can also have quad-core processor, which is intel core i7
dv7 can have Intel Core i3 processor, upgradable to Intel Core i5

Operating System
Both laptops comes with two options
genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64-bit

Service & Support,Warranty
One year warranty on hardware
Extensible quick support
Access to on-line support by clicking on the desktop icon
Access to our on-line classes, FAQs, and other resources through HP Total Care
60 days of complimentary live updates to Symantec Norton Internet Security 2010, which has been optimized for your PC

Response and battery time
Real-time chat and e-mail (with a response in about an hour)
Battery life up to 4.75 hours (8 cell)

Connectivity
4 USB ports
HDMI
eSATA
VGA

Security
Built-in HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection, which detects if your notebook is being dropped and locks your hard drive to help protect your data

Memory
Choices
3GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
FREE Upgrade to 4GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm) from 3GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)

Hard drive
Choices:
320GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
500GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
640GB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (320GB x 2) with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
1TB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (500GB x 2) with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
448GB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (SSD 128GB + 320GB 7200RPM)
628GB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (SSD 128GB + 500GB 7200RPM)

Price of dv6 laptop is around $650 and dv7 laptop is $800