HELP: Upgrade CPU with microcode.dat file

[SpeedyVV]

I have a microcode.dat file that I want to load to my Xeon E5-2699v3 CPUs.

 

How can I do this on unRAID?

 

Thanks

[tdallen]

While the OS can initiate a microcode update, ideally this is done by the motherboard manufacturer via a BIOS update.  Have you checked with them?

[SpeedyVV]

@tdallen the microcode I want to load is not an official one.

 

It is to take advantage of an Xeon bug that allows turbo on all cores.

 

Tried it from Windows and my cores go from 2.3 GHz to 2.8 GHz.

 

reference: https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/what-controls-turbo-core-in-xeons.2496647/page-60#post-39085522

[SpeedyVV]

Anyone with any ideas?

 

Still trying to get this done.

 

Found out how to do it on Ubunto: https://askubuntu.com/questions/545925/how-to-update-intel-microcode-properly

[bonienl]

It is not possible in unRAID, because it is compiled without the particular switch which allows for microcode updating.

 

[FreeMan]

On 10/15/2017 at 7:41 AM, SpeedyVV said:

Anyone with any ideas?

 

Still trying to get this done.

 

Found out how to do it on Ubunto: https://askubuntu.com/questions/545925/how-to-update-intel-microcode-properly

 

Make a live Ubuntu CD/USB

boot your machine on that

run the procedure (assuming, of course, that it will run from a live CD boot - I haven't read the link)

remove the CD/USB

test thoroughly!

reboot into unRAID

 

Alternatively:

boot from Windows install media

Install Win on a spare drive*

run the update

test thoroughly

remove Windows boot drive

reboot into unRAID

*if you're out of spare drives, you could follow the cache drive replacement procedures to clear your cache drive, install Win on that, do the dirty work, then when you're satisfied it's functioning properly, reboot into unRAID & let it reformat your cache/temp-Win drive back to btrfs & follow the rest of the cache drive replacement procedure to get your data back to where it was.

[Squid]

Don't think that will work. AFAIK microcode updates have to be applied at every boot unless they're part of a BIOS update

[SpeedyVV]

13 hours ago, Squid said:

Don't think that will work. AFAIK microcode updates have to be applied at every boot unless they're part of a BIOS update

 

I think you are correct.

 

As a matter of fact, I do have a 2nd boot disk for running Windows.

 

I can get the firmware changed in Windows and my Speeds go up as expected.

 

But I have to do that every reboot.

[FreeMan]

19 hours ago, Squid said:

Don't think that will work. AFAIK microcode updates have to be applied at every boot unless they're part of a BIOS update

 

ah well, it was worth a shot.

[planetwilson]

Aaah this is bad news  I want to do the same

[ljm42]

51 minutes ago, planetwilson said:

Aaah this is bad news  I want to do the same

 

This is an old thread The microcode is now updated automatically in the 6.4 prerelease versions. You can either upgrade now (most people would say it is safe) or wait for it to be officially released (likely soon) 

https://lime-technology.com/forums/forum/65-prerelease-64-support/ 

[planetwilson]

But this doesn't allow you to apply your own microcode updates does it?

 

That is what is being asked here. The V3 Xeons can be made to run all their cores at max turbo with a microcode update but you need to be able to apply the update.

[ljm42]

14 hours ago, planetwilson said:

But this doesn't allow you to apply your own microcode updates does it?

 

Sorry, I did not read from the top of the thread

 

6.4.0 (now released!) gives us the latest microcode updates from Intel, but I don't know about loading custom ones.