On 01/03/2018 08:48 AM, Linda Walsh wrote:
Of course, Intel hasn't stepped up to say they'll replace the faulty chips, which seem to be related mostly to Intel-specific chip speedups not in other chips (like Intel's "speculative execution" feature that pre-executes multiple branches of a conditional ahead of knowing which branch will be taken). Intel has a history of offering replacing HW or compensation for their chips being hit by a 20% perf-penalty in the field.
Lovely... -l
Even if they *did* offer replacements, there would be a lot of machines that could not take advantage of the offer. In recent years, Intel's laptop chips are BGA (Bubble Grid Array), precision-soldered to the motherboard (a precision that cannot be done by humans, must be done by machine). In other words, you cannot switch out the CPUs in newer "Intel Inside" laptops. As an aside: I bought a new laptop with one of these new Intel mobile chips the other day, brought it home, fired it up and it ran like a dog at high noon in the desert. My 10+ year-old laptops all ran circles around it, even though it had quantum-more included Memory. No problem, I thought, I will get a faster CPU and switch it out ... until I looked it up only to learn about BGA. I started checking other Intel Laptops online to discover they were all BGA, then called a Senior Tech at my major Supplier, only to be told All Laptops with Intel are now BGA, as far as he knows. He said that the only way to change the CPU in them is to replace the complete motherboard. I did not know this, retired my business a few years ago so have not been looking inside new laptops for some time, now. Needless to say, laptop went back to the store. I am dusting off some of my 10-year-old laptops and reviving them. I like the superior speed these old beasts provide as well as the option to be able to replace the CPUs if they burn out. Sounds like Regression in CPUs rather than Progression, lately. -- -Gerry Makaro aka Fraser_Bell on the forums, IRC, and mail at openSUSE.org -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org To contact the owner, e-mail: opensuse+owner@opensuse.org