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 i5-5200U vs i5-6200U vs i5-7200U – Performance Review

Intel Core i5 Processors are considered to be workhorse processors falling between basic Intel Core i3 and Powerhouse Intel Core i7 processors.

Price of Intel Core i5 processors have been low enough to be very competitive with Intel Core i3 processors. We are comparing three i5 processors using the same 14nm process.

Primary difference between each of these processors is CPU clock speed, from 5200 to 6200 and then to 7200 there is a gradual improvement in clocks speed. Difference between i5-5200 and i5-6200 is only 4% where i5-7200 shows a 10% increase over i5-6200. But still if there is a $100 difference with the older model, it is wise to take the lower price.

In terms of Memory i5-5200U can only support 16GB RAM. i5-6200U and i5-7200U can support upto to 32 GB. 6th and 7th generation i5 processors support DDR4 while Gen 5 doesnt support DDR4. But most laptops come with less than 16GB RAM.

Other big change is support for 4K resolutions in i5-6200U and i5-7200U.

There is better thermal performance with the newer processors but not as significant.

Please have a look at the below details for more information. Overall there is not much to choose between these Mid Tier i5 cpus. But if you are looking for 4K resolution or DDR4 , then you now know which ones to pick.

 

Intel Core i5

Product Name
Intel Core i5-5200U Processor (3M Cache, up to 2.70 GHz) Intel Core i5-6200U Processor (3M Cache, up to 2.80 GHz) Intel Core i5-7200U Processor (3M Cache, up to 3.10 GHz)
Code Name
Broadwell Skylake Kaby Lake

Essentials

Processor Number
i5-5200U i5-6200U i5-7200U
Launch Date
Q1’15 Q3’15 Q3’16
Lithography
14 nm 14 nm 14 nm

Performance

# of Cores
2 2 2
# of Threads
4 4 4
Processor Base Frequency
2.20 GHz 2.30 GHz 2.50 GHz
Max Turbo Frequency
2.70 GHz 2.80 GHz 3.10 GHz
Cache
3 MB 3 MB SmartCache 3 MB SmartCache
Bus Speed
5 GT/s DMI2 4 GT/s OPI 4 GT/s OPI
TDP
15 W 15 W 15 W
Configurable TDP-down Frequency
600.00 MHz 800.00 MHz 800.00 MHz
Configurable TDP-down
7.5 W 7.5 W 7.5 W
Configurable TDP-up Frequency
2.40 GHz 2.70 GHz
Configurable TDP-up
25 W 25 W

Supplemental Information

Embedded Options Available
No No No
Datasheet
Link Link Link
Conflict Free
Yes Yes Yes
 

Memory Specifications

Max Memory Size (dependent on memory type)
16 GB 32 GB 32 GB
Memory Types
DDR3L 1333/1600, LPDDR3 1333/1600 DDR4-2133, LPDDR3-1866, DDR3L-1600 DDR4-2133, LPDDR3-1866, DDR3L-1600
Max # of Memory Channels
2 2 2
Max Memory Bandwidth
25.6 GB/s 34.1 GB/s 34.1 GB/s
ECC Memory Supported
No No

Graphics Specifications

Processor Graphics
Intel® HD Graphics 5500 Intel® HD Graphics 520 Intel® HD Graphics 620
Graphics Base Frequency
300.00 MHz 300.00 MHz 300.00 MHz
Graphics Max Dynamic Frequency
900.00 MHz 1.00 GHz 1.00 GHz
Graphics Video Max Memory
16 GB 32 GB 32 GB
Graphics Output
eDP/DP/HDMI eDP/DP/HDMI/DVI eDP/DP/HDMI/DVI
Max Resolution (HDMI 1.4)‡
2560X1600@60Hz 4096×2304@24Hz 4096×2304@24Hz
Max Resolution (DP)‡
3840×2160@60Hz 4096×2304@60Hz 4096×2304@60Hz
DirectX* Support
11.2/12 12 12
OpenGL* Support
4.3 4.4 4.4
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Yes Yes Yes
Intel® InTru™ 3D Technology
Yes Yes Yes
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Yes
Intel® Clear Video HD Technology
Yes Yes Yes
Intel® Clear Video Technology
Yes Yes Yes
Intel® Wireless Display
Yes Yes
# of Displays Supported
3 3 3
Device ID
0x1616 0x1916 0x5916
4K Support
Yes, at 60Hz Yes, at 60Hz
Max Resolution (Intel® WiDi)‡
1080p
Max Resolution (eDP – Integrated Flat Panel)‡
4096×2304@60Hz 4096×2304@60Hz
Max Resolution (VGA)‡
N/A N/A

Expansion Options

PCI Express Revision
2.0 3.0 3.0
PCI Express Configurations
4×1, 2×4 1×4, 2×2, 1×2+2×1 and 4×1 1×4, 2×2, 1×2+2×1 and 4×1
Max # of PCI Express Lanes
12 12 12

Package Specifications

Sockets Supported
FCBGA1168 FCBGA1356 FCBGA1356
Max CPU Configuration
1 1 1
TJUNCTION
105°C 100°C 100°C
Package Size
40mm x 24mm x 1.3mm 42mm X 24mm 42mm X 24mm
Low Halogen Options Available
See MDDS See MDDS See MDDS

Advanced Technologies

Intel® Turbo Boost Technology
2.0 2.0 2.0
Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology
Yes Yes Yes
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Yes Yes Yes
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Yes Yes Yes
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)
Yes Yes Yes
Intel® 64
Yes Yes Yes
Instruction Set
64-bit 64-bit 64-bit
Instruction Set Extensions
SSE4.1/4.2, AVX 2.0 SSE4.1/4.2, AVX 2.0 SSE4.1/4.2, AVX 2.0
Idle States
Yes Yes Yes
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology
Yes Yes Yes
Thermal Monitoring Technologies
Yes Yes Yes
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Yes
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Yes Yes Yes
Intel® Identity Protection Technology
Yes Yes
Intel® Small Business Advantage
Yes Yes
Intel® Smart Response Technology
Yes Yes Yes
Intel® vPro Technology
No No
Intel® TSX-NI
No No
Intel® Stable Image Platform Program (SIPP)
No No
Intel® My WiFi Technology
Yes Yes
Intel® Speed Shift Technology
Yes

Intel® Data Protection Technology

Intel® AES New Instructions
Yes Yes Yes
Secure Key
Yes Yes Yes
Intel® Software Guard Extensions (Intel® SGX)
Yes Yes
Intel® Memory Protection Extensions (Intel® MPX)
Yes Yes

Intel® Platform Protection Technology

Execute Disable Bit
Yes Yes Yes
OS Guard
Yes Yes Yes
Trusted Execution Technology
No No

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