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Meltdown and Spectre Patched BIOS for X58 Motherboards

NPina

NPina

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Jan 13, 2011
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System Specs
System Name OLDHIGHTECH
Processor Intel Xeon X5690 @ "4.4GHz 'OC"
Motherboard Asus P6X58D-E
Cooling Corsair H115i Extreme Performance
Memory Corsair Vengeance 24GB "1760MHz CL9 T1 'OC"
Video Card(s) nVidia GeForce RTX 2060 Asus Strix O6G
Storage SSD Samsung 860 EVO 250GB (OS); SSD Samsung 860 EVO 500GB (GAMES); HDD Toshiba P300 2TB (DATA)
Display(s) BenQ Zowie XL2411P
Case NOX Raiden
Audio Device(s) Creative Sound Blaster Z; Sharkoon X-Tatic 5.1 Headset
Power Supply Corsair TX650W
Mouse Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum
Keyboard MK Plus Slayer
Software Windows 10 Pro 64bits
Benchmark Scores CINEBENCH r20 2144pts
Hello , now i feel much more protect.
I have a x58 system:
Asus P658XD-E
Xeon X5690
24GB RAM Corsair
Thanks for your great help!
Now i have a question, why you use this drivers:
"Intel Chipset Device Software 9.4.0.1017"
and not this
"Intel Chipset Device Software v9.4.2.1020"
*Sorry for my bad English
Best regards
 
Eian

Eian

Joined
Nov 3, 2018
Messages
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Hello,

I'm using a Xeon X5650 (Microcode 206C2) on a P6T Deluxe (2209 Bios) motherboard.
I'm getting SLOWER performance when using the InSpectre tool even after I updated to the modded version of the bios.
(http://www.mediafire.com/file/wjp627dgmv1uzn5/P6TD-DELUXE-ASUS-0608-MOD.ZIP/file)

Excuse me if there is something I'm missing,
I though that by updating the microcode through the bios would improve the performance since it wouldn't require higher level software to patch the security hole.

So is the reading I'm getting from InSpectre tool normal? Is there something else I can do to improve this performance hit?

HWInfo.PNG InSpectre.PNG

Thank you,

Best regards!
 
Regeneration

Regeneration

NGOHQ.COM
Joined
Oct 26, 2005
Messages
3,128 (0.45/day)
NPina said:
Hello , now i feel much more protect.
I have a x58 system:
Asus P658XD-E
Xeon X5690
24GB RAM Corsair
Thanks for your great help!
Now i have a question, why you use this drivers:
"Intel Chipset Device Software 9.4.0.1017"
and not this
"Intel Chipset Device Software v9.4.2.1020"
*Sorry for my bad English
Best regards
Click to expand...

Intel Chipset Device Software 9.4.0.1017 is the last version that is verified to install all of X58 chipset components.

Eian said:
Hello,

I'm using a Xeon X5650 (Microcode 206C2) on a P6T Deluxe (2209 Bios) motherboard.
I'm getting SLOWER performance when using the InSpectre tool even after I updated to the modded version of the bios.
(http://www.mediafire.com/file/wjp627dgmv1uzn5/P6TD-DELUXE-ASUS-0608-MOD.ZIP/file)

Excuse me if there is something I'm missing,
I though that by updating the microcode through the bios would improve the performance since it wouldn't require higher level software to patch the security hole.

So is the reading I'm getting from InSpectre tool normal? Is there something else I can do to improve this performance hit?!
Click to expand...

The SLOWER performance indicator in InSpectre is just relative vs. new CPUs. It is perfectly normal.

Modern CPUs take a smaller hit from Spectre mitigation due to the INVPCID feature.

Spectre cannot be patched by software. It requires a microcode update.

Next update of Windows 10 will improve Spectre mitigation performance even further.
 
Last edited:
Eian

Eian

Joined
Nov 3, 2018
Messages
8 (0.00/day)
Regeneration said:
Intel Chipset Device Software 9.4.0.1017 is the last version that is verified to install all of X58 chipset components.



The SLOWER performance indicator in InSpectre is just relative vs. new CPUs. It is perfectly normal.

Modern CPUs take a smaller hit from Spectre mitigation due to the INVPCID feature.

Spectre cannot be patched by software. It requires a microcode update.

Next update of Windows 10 will improve Spectre mitigation performance even further.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your fast reply and info!!
So since I was getting the same indications in InSpectre with the official Bios, are there any other benefits so to consider the modded Bios?
 
Regeneration

Regeneration

NGOHQ.COM
Joined
Oct 26, 2005
Messages
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Eian said:
Thank you for your fast reply and info!!
So since I was getting the same indications in InSpectre with the official Bios, are there any other benefits so to consider the modded Bios?
Click to expand...

The microcode in the modded BIOS is newer, more stable, and a bit faster than the one embedded in Windows 10.

TRIM support for SSDs in RAID and the luxury to switch from Windows 10 to another OS.
 
S

savvy007

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Nov 18, 2018
Messages
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Hi,
anyone around, who can confirm, that a P6T is working in RAID-Mode using the updated BIOS with the new OROM?

I’m running the P6T (plain vanilla) with an i7-980X and 2 x SSD in RAID0. After upgrading the BIOS (11/08/2018) the OROM doesn’t show up at all, even after a CMOS reset (jumper & battery).
Currently I’m running a 1408 BIOS with updated OROM V10.1.0.1008 since 2011 without issues, but would be very interested in the newer version because of the included TRIM feature, besides the Spectre patch.
Thanks for your help & keep up the great work!
 
Last edited:
Regeneration

Regeneration

NGOHQ.COM
Joined
Oct 26, 2005
Messages
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savvy007 said:
Hi,
anyone around, who can confirm, that a P6T is working in RAID-Mode using the updated BIOS with the new OROM?

I’m running the P6T (plain vanilla) with an i7-980X and 2 x SSD in RAID0. After upgrading the BIOS (11/08/2018) the OROM doesn’t show up, even after a CMOS reset (jumper & battery).
Currently I’m running a 1408 BIOS with updated OROM V10.1.0.1008 since 2011 without issues, but would be very interested in the newer version because of the included TRIM feature, besides the Spectre patch.
Thanks for your help & keep up the great work!
Click to expand...

The BIOS of ASUS P6T was tested thoroughly and found to be 100 pecent stable.

Something is wrong on your end. Maybe, you have a non-standard P6T (crossflashed P6T SE?).
 
Vlada011

Vlada011

Joined
Sep 22, 2012
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Location
Belgrade, Serbia
System Specs
System Name Intel® X99 Wellsburg
Processor Intel® Core™ i7-5820K - 4.5GHz
Motherboard ASUS Rampage V E10 (1801)
Cooling EK RGB Monoblock + EK XRES D5 Revo Glass PWM
Memory CMD16GX4M4A2666C15
Video Card(s) ASUS GTX1080Ti Poseidon
Storage Samsung 970 EVO PLUS 1TB /850 EVO 1TB / WD Black 2TB
Display(s) Samsung P2450H
Case Lian Li PC-O11 WXC
Audio Device(s) CREATIVE Sound Blaster ZxR
Power Supply EVGA 1200 P2 Platinum
Mouse Logitech G900 / SS QCK
Keyboard Deck 87 Francium Pro
Software Windows 10 Pro x64
Can someone to explain me one thing... This mean I'm protected???
And I'm fully protected or partially?

Capture.PNG


Because I flash 1902 BETA BIOS on ASUS Rampage V E10 and Windows is updated 1809 version.
I didn't done anything else to protect self, didn't change BIOS codes, nothing.

If I'm fully protected, why then people dramatized and search for so many fixes and invest so much time to find solution, to update, upgrade, re-flash, reinstall and why we read about so many problems. I'm very sad because I didn't check In Spectre Checker before I done ASUS Flashback from 1801 to 1902 version, just to confirm if maybe new Beta BIOS launched before few months changed something.

If someone could explain, thanks.
 
S

savvy007

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Nov 18, 2018
Messages
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Hi Regeneration,
thanks for your super-fast reply!
From what I know, it's not crossflashed, it's still showing as "P6T", just the OROM had been updated. What can I do to verify?
All setting had been verified, System boots from alternative disk, all looking fine. All disks are shown in "AHCI", as soon I select "RAID" they disappear as normal. The boot process continues, showing JMicron-OROM, but no Intel?
 

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Regeneration

Regeneration

NGOHQ.COM
Joined
Oct 26, 2005
Messages
3,128 (0.45/day)
Vlada011 said:
Can someone to explain me one thing... This mean I'm protected???
And I'm fully protected or partially?

View attachment 110843

Because I flash 1902 BETA BIOS on ASUS Rampage V E10 and Windows is updated 1809 version.
I didn't done anything else to protect self, didn't change BIOS codes, nothing.

If I'm fully protected, why then people dramatized and search for so many fixes and invest so much time to find solution, to update, upgrade, re-flash, reinstall and why we read about so many problems. I'm very sad because I didn't check In Spectre Checker before I done ASUS Flashback from 1801 to 1902 version, just to confirm if maybe new Beta BIOS launched before few months changed something.

If someone could explain, thanks.
Click to expand...

Haswell (306F2) is still fully supported by both ASUS and Microsoft. Previous CPUs are less fortunate.

savvy007 said:
Hi Regeneration,
thanks for your super-fast reply!
From what I know, it's not crossflashed, it's still showing as "P6T", just the OROM had been updated. What can I do to verify?
All setting had been verified, System boots from alternative disk, all looking fine. All disks are shown in "AHCI", as soon I select "RAID" they disappear as normal. The boot process continues, showing JMicron-OROM, but no Intel?
Click to expand...

You don't get the Intel RAID prompt with CTRL-I? Try to disable the full screen logo.
 
S

savvy007

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full screen logo is always off! :) like to see details, no advertisements… :D

Yes, no Intel RAID info at all! No table, Nothing! So no chance for a CTRL-I. Tried "AddOn ROM Display Mode" in "Force BIOS" and "Keep Current" -> no change
 
Regeneration

Regeneration

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Messages
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savvy007 said:
full screen logo is always off! :) like to see details, no advertisements… :D
Click to expand...

The only logical explanation I can think of is: the RAID array is bugged because it was created by another O-ROM. I'm quite sure you'll get the RAID screen if you unplug the drives. So, the solution is to extract the O-ROM from your previous BIOS and to inject it to the new one with a 3rd party tool such as MMTool.
 
Last edited:
S

savvy007

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ok, I'll try that tomorrow, keeping just one empty drive connected...
No need to extract the old OROM-Code, cause I'm interested in the new version including the Trim function as well!

Will keep you posted, thanks a lot for all your suggestions! :)
 
Regeneration

Regeneration

NGOHQ.COM
Joined
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Messages
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savvy007 said:
ok, I'll try that tomorrow, keeping just one empty drive connected...
No need to extract the old OROM-Code, cause I'm interested in the new version including the Trim function as well!

Will keep you posted, thanks a lot for all your suggestions! :)
Click to expand...

Best thing to do is to inject this O-ROM to your BIOS.
 
S

savvy007

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ok, whatever I tried, no disk, single empty disk, 2 empty disks, all different ports -> no success! No OROM displayed. As soon as RAID is selected, no disk is shown in boot-list either.
Funny enought, I booted from a USB-Stick with WinPE while the original SSD's where connected: the RAID0-Vol was shown in WinPE, could be accessed without Problems and the devmgr showed the correct "Intel(R) Desktop/Workstation/Server Express Chipset SATA RAID Controller". So it seems, the basic RAID funktions work, but the disks are not seen by the BIOS.

Guess I have to bite the bullet and try to implement the above 10.1.0.1008 OROM into your new BIOS. Never done that before, so need some deep reading about it...
What was the OROM Version, you implemented into the modified Spectre-Bios on Aug-11 for the P6T?
 
X

Xrhstos

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Hello and thanks for your work Regeneration,
Im using an ASUS Rampage 2 Extreme and im getting an error message "boot block in file is not valid" whenever i try to flash your bios
downloaded multiple times, can you please look into it?
20181205_015913.jpg
 
Regeneration

Regeneration

NGOHQ.COM
Joined
Oct 26, 2005
Messages
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Xrhstos said:
Hello and thanks for your work Regeneration,
Im using an ASUS Rampage 2 Extreme and im getting an error message "boot block in file is not valid" whenever i try to flash your bios
downloaded multiple times, can you please look into it?
Click to expand...

Try flashing from with the included AFUDOS utility from a flash drive formatted in FAT32 filesystem.
 
X

Xrhstos

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just tried with the "afudos i/[R2XTREME].rom" command but it says "unable to open ROM file"
 
X

Xrhstos

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Sorry , never used this utility before as i was always flashing through the motherboard built in utility.
tried it also but this is what i get
im sure im missing some steps though

20181205_033749.jpg
 
X

Xrhstos

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Thank you very much for your effort and support
Just booted after a successful flash!
The one that worked for me was
"afudos /iR2EXTREME.rom" with no extra switces
 
M

meetajhu

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Dec 7, 2018
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I have Rampage II Extreme motherboard and updating bios with your modded one allows me to install Windows 1803 or still requires VT-D fixing. I just don't want to disable VT-D as its useful for emulation and vm's. I tired installing 1803 and 1809 with VT-D off system was totally unstable. Steam was constantly crashing.
 
Thumper68

Thumper68

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Regeneration said:
Linked below is a database of modified BIOSes for X58 motherboards patched with the latest microcode (0x1F for Westmere, 0x1D for Bloomfield) against Meltdown and all variants of Spectre. Make sure the operating system is also updated to be fully protected from speculative execution side-channel vulnerabilities (CVE-2017-5715, CVE-2017-5753, CVE-2017-5754).

While most of Nehalem CPUs received a new microcode from Intel, there is an early stepping (C0) that hasn't and therefore still vulnerable at the moment. However, these very few CPUs will also benefit from increased security and stability due to more recent microcode. In addition, the ROMs feature TRIM support for SSDs in RAID0 and extended CPU compatibility table for all motherboards.

Unofficial ROMs! use at your own risk.

ASRock *updated on 11/8/2018*
ASUS *updated on 11/8/2018*
Biostar *updated on 11/8/2018*
DFI *updated on 11/8/2018*
ECS *updated on 19/8/2018*
EVGA *updated on 11/8/2018*
Foxconn *updated on 11/8/2018*
Gigabyte *updated on 11/8/2018*
MSI *updated on 11/8/2018*
Sapphire *updated on 11/8/2018*
Shuttle *updated on 19/8/2018*
XFX *updated on 19/8/2018*
Zotac *updated on 19/8/2018*
Other useful downloads
All of ROMs are mirrored in this location just-in-case.

Some 3DMark and AIDA64 benchmark results are available here.
Click to expand...

Thanks for putting in the work and posting all these bios updates when you really didn’t have to and so many people are asses about it if they don’t like it then they should kick rocks!

I’m about to put together a Gigabyte EX58-UD4P x5680 just wanted to ask if this bios update would work best knowing it’s technically not supported cpu. Have seen others post if using this combo with no issues but have been unable to find out what bios etc they have been using. Thanks
 
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