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Intel Skylake processors crash at specific Prime number calculations
Intel is soon to issue a big-fix through BIOS firmware updates. The Skylake architecture has a hardware error in which it'll crash the processor and system once it reaches a specific Prime number.
The problem only shows itself with very specific prime numbers, in a respons in their forums Intel stated that they are aware of the big and are working on a fix that is soon to be released with the help of a BIOS update.
The big was detected by users of Prime95, a program developped by the Mersenne Research group. If Prime is used to test the number 14942209 then the system will simply crash.
You could test this yourself:
- Download and install Prime95 for Windows on a Skylake system from the website.
- In the menu go to 'Advanced | Test' and fill in the number 14942209 in the box labeled 'Exponent to test'
- Let the program run for some time and at some point, minutes or hours, the system will freeze.
Mersenne prime numbers are activate used in random number generators and crypography.
Intel - Intel has identified an issue that potentially affects the 6th Gen Intel® Core™ family of products. This issue only occurs under certain complex workload conditions, like those that may be encountered when running applications like Prime95. In those cases, the processor may hang or cause unpredictable system behavior. Intel has identified and released a fix and is working with external business partners to get the fix deployed through BIOS.
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Fox2232
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#5217445 Posted on: 01/11/2016 01:20 PM
As much as AMD Phenom bug. Nearly impossible to happen, normal users did not have to care, and yet BIOS fix was issued. And in process it degraded performance a bit.
As much as AMD Phenom bug. Nearly impossible to happen, normal users did not have to care, and yet BIOS fix was issued. And in process it degraded performance a bit.
GeniusPr0
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#5217489 Posted on: 01/11/2016 02:39 PM
If it has to compute the prime specified then the system will freeze.
So what does this mean in real world applications? Could this affect gaming for example?
If it has to compute the prime specified then the system will freeze.
Octopuss
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#5217503 Posted on: 01/11/2016 02:57 PM
How can this be fixed with a BIOS update, when apparently something is done wrong on the hardware level (like, some messed up instructions or something)?
How can this be fixed with a BIOS update, when apparently something is done wrong on the hardware level (like, some messed up instructions or something)?
Undying
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#5217506 Posted on: 01/11/2016 02:58 PM
Thats what i thought. They said its a Skylake architecture hardware error. No bios can fix that.
How can this be fixed with a BIOS update, when apparently something is done wrong on the hardware level (like, some messed up instructions or something)?
Thats what i thought. They said its a Skylake architecture hardware error. No bios can fix that.
Kaarme
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#5217509 Posted on: 01/11/2016 03:01 PM
There must be millions of Skylake systems running already. If it was a common problem during running common applications, like games, it would be a huge issue by now, with PCs crashing regularly left and right.
So what does this mean in real world applications? Could this affect gaming for example?
There must be millions of Skylake systems running already. If it was a common problem during running common applications, like games, it would be a huge issue by now, with PCs crashing regularly left and right.
Denial
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#5217513 Posted on: 01/11/2016 03:06 PM
Huh? Intel pushes out Microcode bios updates with nearly every processor release to fix various errata. This isn't anything new aside from the fact that it's a bigger flaw than you usually see.
Thats what i thought. They said its a Skylake architecture hardware error. No bios can fix that.
Huh? Intel pushes out Microcode bios updates with nearly every processor release to fix various errata. This isn't anything new aside from the fact that it's a bigger flaw than you usually see.
Warrax
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#5217552 Posted on: 01/11/2016 04:15 PM
That's what firmware do, to an extend.
How can this be fixed with a BIOS update, when apparently something is done wrong on the hardware level (like, some messed up instructions or something)?
That's what firmware do, to an extend.
FerCam™
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#5217567 Posted on: 01/11/2016 04:31 PM
So this is the new 586 aka Pentium?
So this is the new 586 aka Pentium?
nexxusting
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#5217572 Posted on: 01/11/2016 04:36 PM
Definitely "Huh?". Lol.
Obviously somebody doesn't even know what a microcode update even is. Doesn't just allow newer CPU'd on a mobo.
Huh? Intel pushes out Microcode bios updates with nearly every processor release to fix various errata. This isn't anything new aside from the fact that it's a bigger flaw than you usually see.
Definitely "Huh?". Lol.
Obviously somebody doesn't even know what a microcode update even is. Doesn't just allow newer CPU'd on a mobo.
Neo Cyrus
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#5217578 Posted on: 01/11/2016 04:49 PM
For most users this means nothing unless an updated BIOS to work around this causes a performance hit like with the Phenoms. For those who are doing intense calculations, a defect like this could be a real problem.
Reminds me of the Pentium FDIV bug, which resulted in some calculations being wrong.
For most users this means nothing unless an updated BIOS to work around this causes a performance hit like with the Phenoms. For those who are doing intense calculations, a defect like this could be a real problem.
Reminds me of the Pentium FDIV bug, which resulted in some calculations being wrong.
Razoola
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#5217619 Posted on: 01/11/2016 06:11 PM
Could get real messy if intel also cripple the overclock hack in the same fix
Could get real messy if intel also cripple the overclock hack in the same fix
haz_mat
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#5217623 Posted on: 01/11/2016 06:16 PM
Some things can be fixed in BIOS, happens all the time in fact (as mentioned, errata is not uncommon). I think its too early to tell if there will be a performance hit from the fix, but that is certainly possible.
This particular issue is different than the infamous FDIV bug - there was no system hang there, instead it was yielding incorrect computation when dividing floats.
In that link to the intel forums they mention the issue is only reproducible when hyperthreading is used with AVX instructions on a skylake chip - and they're able to trigger it when computing on a specific large-exponent. A very specific set of conditions to say the least.
From this alone, there is no reason to conclude that this issue is only able to be triggered under these exact circumstances. Someone in that thread even mentioned an ongoing discussion at tomshardware about skylake systems freezing up while idle for no reason, even after RMA'ing multiple components.
I'm sure more information about the issue will be revealed after they have a fix ready, as disclosing too much at this stage is a definite security risk.
Some things can be fixed in BIOS, happens all the time in fact (as mentioned, errata is not uncommon). I think its too early to tell if there will be a performance hit from the fix, but that is certainly possible.
This particular issue is different than the infamous FDIV bug - there was no system hang there, instead it was yielding incorrect computation when dividing floats.
In that link to the intel forums they mention the issue is only reproducible when hyperthreading is used with AVX instructions on a skylake chip - and they're able to trigger it when computing on a specific large-exponent. A very specific set of conditions to say the least.
From this alone, there is no reason to conclude that this issue is only able to be triggered under these exact circumstances. Someone in that thread even mentioned an ongoing discussion at tomshardware about skylake systems freezing up while idle for no reason, even after RMA'ing multiple components.
I'm sure more information about the issue will be revealed after they have a fix ready, as disclosing too much at this stage is a definite security risk.
WareTernal
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#5217708 Posted on: 01/11/2016 09:28 PM
So your insane OC may be stable after all?
"There's also FPGAs and other ICs" - that's interesting...What the last Intel CPU that was field programmable?
So your insane OC may be stable after all?
"There's also FPGAs and other ICs" - that's interesting...What the last Intel CPU that was field programmable?
EspHack
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#5217712 Posted on: 01/11/2016 09:38 PM
I wouldn't be surprised, but mobo makers can enable it back right? I'm not exactly sure how the process goes, intel cant offer a bios for every mobo from every oem, all they can offer is a fixed code, which each manufacturer then fits into their bios, so intel would have to hide their malicious code inside it or something
Could get real messy if intel also cripple the overclock hack in the same fix
I wouldn't be surprised, but mobo makers can enable it back right? I'm not exactly sure how the process goes, intel cant offer a bios for every mobo from every oem, all they can offer is a fixed code, which each manufacturer then fits into their bios, so intel would have to hide their malicious code inside it or something
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So what does this mean in real world applications? Could this affect gaming for example?