Asus not releasing spectre fix for x99

demondrops

demondrops

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jul 7, 2016
Messages
422
It have been ages. I asked on mail when it is coming, no ETA. Should i be worried? Probably not just yet but, what if they wont release a fix. Suprised if they didnt but the days are going, i keep checking daily. Is this a legit reason to talk to retailer, and ask for something else?
 
fixes only just came out for the most recent ones like yesterday, older stuff will probably come but may still take a while. Not sure what you expect to gain from talking to a retailer, it's not like there are reports of attacks made with this yet, but if you want to buy new stuff just for the hell of it, be my guest.

Think this is still somewhat overblown atm.
 
Calm your panties. You're also barking up the wrong tree, intel not asus are the ones to check for news first.

There is no stable spectre-resistant microcode for haswell or broadwell yet. They literally just re-released skylake, kaby and coffee with the stability fixes.
 
That's what you get as a company for making dozens of "different" motherboards for the same CPU's, you need to maintain them if you want to stay in business.

Same for my old soundcard when win 10 came out, had to wait over 2 months to get drivers which were half assed. Hence why they now pulled the first round of patches and updates.
 
Thats why I mod my own bios files and update the microcodes myself especially on my X99 board where it now has the 2A microcode. Wasn’t going to wait for Asus or MSI. Anyone needs help PM me.
 
You notice that link no longer works. Appatently Intel is no longer being transparent about their security issues.
 
Aluminum said:
Few new ones out now:

https://newsroom.intel.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2018/02/microcode-update-guidance.pdf

Might want to give them some time to bake though. Or you can blindly trust that it will be totally stable this time and deploy to thousands of critical servers right this minute ;)

For regular PCs, patching the browser is 10000 times more important.
Click to expand...

Since I'm deploying one fully tested and signed off machine image either rolling or blue/green, it's really not that big a deal.

Having GitHub go down was a bigger problem with Devs that didn't listen to any of their Sr staff. We told them in case of something, get your builds closer to the deployment pipeline.

We were like, oh good you figured out a new way to cause scaling problems by not listening to the guys that run the teams you work on.
I could tell my lead xxx.js Dev was super annoyed this morning when he got answers to his questions about why builds died bc they couldn't waste a ton of time going thru Chef config cycle instead of prebaked images launching.

I'm slowly turning him into a sys admin, one screaming match with his guys at a time.
 
davidm71 said:
Thats why I mod my own bios files and update the microcodes myself especially on my X99 board where it now has the 2A microcode. Wasn’t going to wait for Asus or MSI. Anyone needs help PM me.
Click to expand...

Well after dealing in depth with Asus and their "insert acronym here team" (the people that actually write the code for Asus products) this sentence puts you about 40 IQ points above anyone at Asus. I would honestly trust someone on this board before trusting any clown working at Asus Corp. That's for sure. Such a horrible company.
 
BrokenAnimator said:
Well after dealing in depth with Asus and their "insert acronym here team" (the people that actually write the code for Asus products) this sentence puts you about 40 IQ points above anyone at Asus. I would honestly trust someone on this board before trusting any clown working at Asus Corp. That's for sure. Such a horrible company.
Click to expand...

That rma issue is why I don't buy their products.
If I happen to be using one of their mobos, it's bc someone bought it and I just happen to be using it for the time being.
 
GeneO said:
You notice that link no longer works. Appatently Intel is no longer being transparent about their security issues.
Click to expand...

I'm the last one to defend intel (because fuck them) but it really just means there is a newer one, now they are beta testing ivy/sandy/westmere fixes:

https://newsroom.intel.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2018/03/microcode-update-guidance.pdf (you can expect this link to fail in the future too)

I imagine they are pulling these docs from internal stuff and only making select ones public, every revision is probably still on their intranet or whatever. No reason to leave an old inaccurate doc like this publicly accessible to confuse people, I've done similar things with exec reports at $dayjob. You don't let leadership/customers/whatever see the 3 week old report on some problem being 50% fixed when you have one from yesterday showing 80% done.
 
Aluminum said:
I'm the last one to defend intel (because fuck them) but it really just means there is a newer one, now they are beta testing ivy/sandy/westmere fixes:

https://newsroom.intel.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2018/03/microcode-update-guidance.pdf (you can expect this link to fail in the future too)

I imagine they are pulling these docs from internal stuff and only making select ones public, every revision is probably still on their intranet or whatever. No reason to leave an old inaccurate doc like this publicly accessible to confuse people, I've done similar things with exec reports at $dayjob. You don't let leadership/customers/whatever see the 3 week old report on some problem being 50% fixed when you have one from yesterday showing 80% done.
Click to expand...


It's PR 101 to pull old statements and reference fixes in new releases.
It can be a cluster when their schedule and yours start colliding.
 
Ok it's been a month and something since Intel released code updates that were considered final for Haswell. Does anyone know or has anyone heard word from Asus on other x99 boards? Because at this point yes having used Asus since the 90's I'm disappointed. And doubly that for Intel and thinking highly of changing out both of these vendors for a build to replace the X99.

And for the record, variant 2 cannot be addressed with software. So anything not microcode patched is "open". I can tell you one thing for sure - the budget for a new build went down by a lot because high end stuff hasn't guaranteed support you'd expect by a long shot. This weakness has unfortunately demonstrated who can and who can't when it comes to customer support. Clearly that has left most with a less than favorable customer impression.

I have the lovely X99 Deluxe (the original). Update? (OS yes, BIOS still waiting for even a word from Asus).

Lovely
 
yeah not much happening, been checking asus site.. got it on quicklink. still nothing! maybe they just waiting for us to forget it ever happened lol :) or... buy new hardware.
 
Yeah.. I just opened a support case with Asus via email and got official word that all Sabertooth X99 boards are END OF LIFE, which is completely and total horse shit IMHO. I bought this board new less than a year and a half ago and it's already considered 'dead'.

Copy-pasta email from Asus below...


Hello [ENDUSER],

Thank you for contacting ASUS product support. My name is Kristoffer H..

I would like to thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. I do apologize for the confusion. Please let me further assist you.

I do apologize but this unit is part of our End of life unit. Therefore, there will be no updates for this.

Again, I apologize for the inconvenience of this revelation and all its implications and do hope that you may lend us your understanding on the matter.

Have a wonderful day!

In the event that you have additional concerns, please let me know and I will be more than happy to take care of them as well. Thank you for choosing ASUS. Your case number is N#########.

Respectfully,
Kristoffer H.
ASUS Product Support
http://www.asus.com/us/support/
​

Yeah.. just a lil bit pissed right now...
I just LOVE planned obsolescence. /sarcasm
 
so this means that we will have spectre vulnerabilities on our x99 systems then. i guess same goes for everyone else regardless of cpu for x99 for asus. that is prety bad from asus! RMA this shit haha...
 
warderkeeju said:
Yeah.. I just opened a support case with Asus via email and got official word that all Sabertooth X99 boards are END OF LIFE, which is completely and total horse shit IMHO. I bought this board new less than a year and a half ago and it's already considered 'dead'.

Copy-pasta email from Asus below...


Hello [ENDUSER],

Thank you for contacting ASUS product support. My name is Kristoffer H..

I would like to thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. I do apologize for the confusion. Please let me further assist you.

I do apologize but this unit is part of our End of life unit. Therefore, there will be no updates for this.

Again, I apologize for the inconvenience of this revelation and all its implications and do hope that you may lend us your understanding on the matter.

Have a wonderful day!

In the event that you have additional concerns, please let me know and I will be more than happy to take care of them as well. Thank you for choosing ASUS. Your case number is N#########.

Respectfully,
Kristoffer H.
ASUS Product Support
http://www.asus.com/us/support/
​

Yeah.. just a lil bit pissed right now...
I just LOVE planned obsolescence. /sarcasm
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While I don't agree with Asus, you logic of I bought it new less then 1.5 years ago is flawed, by that logic you can buy a new 486 and expect regular firmware updates still to this day.
 
demondrops said:
so this means that we will have spectre vulnerabilities on our x99 systems then. i guess same goes for everyone else regardless of cpu for x99 for asus. that is prety bad from asus! RMA this shit haha...
Click to expand...

I was able to mod the BIOS with the updated Microcode fairly easily -- do a google search for UBU X99, it's the first hit on Google and it's pretty easy to do.

The nice thing is the risk is fairly low as you can always roll back to an unmodified BIOS pretty easily through the ASUS USB Flashback routine.

And Denpepe -- You'd be pretty hard pressed to find a 486 'new in box', whereas you can still buy X99 boards new fairly easily.
 
I'm sorry I don't agree. If the board was bought used or not on the market fine. But a new board, just like a new car, cannot be EOL'd before the finishing of the warranty period.
I'm highly disappointed in Asus. Enough so that it's time to hunt down a new manufacturer to replace them. Other vendors have stepped up to the X99 series that is in their portfolio. I highly suspect there will be class action on this because Intel provided a fix and the vendor is not administering it. Dell issued updates on all old machines, without concern for warranty. Board vendors, aside from Asus are doing the same. Picking only the most expensive X99 boards to update (go look at the list) and refusing to update the rest is blatant strong arming.

Shameful - utterly shameful.
 
Anemone said:
I'm sorry I don't agree. If the board was bought used or not on the market fine. But a new board, just like a new car, cannot be EOL'd before the finishing of the warranty period.
I'm highly disappointed in Asus. Enough so that it's time to hunt down a new manufacturer to replace them. Other vendors have stepped up to the X99 series that is in their portfolio. I highly suspect there will be class action on this because Intel provided a fix and the vendor is not administering it. Dell issued updates on all old machines, without concern for warranty. Board vendors, aside from Asus are doing the same. Picking only the most expensive X99 boards to update (go look at the list) and refusing to update the rest is blatant strong arming.

Shameful - utterly shameful.
Click to expand...

Class action or not... I'm speaking with my wallet for any further builds.
 
My X99 Deluxe was completely bugged with defects that shows no quality assurance, design defects never solved on all deluxe mobos.
This is my last asus mobo. a stupid brand that take your money and forget about you
 
I would be very disappointed with Asus not releasing Spectre/Meltdown fixes (on board, cpu microcode etc) for X99 platforms. Honestly they should still do it for most mainstream boards and chips within the last several years out of good security (higher end "named' boards like those from ROG first in line) - but it is of special importance they update X99 because it is part of the HEDP. High end desktop platform builds not only cost more, but are likely to have a longer lifespan; they're a premium, niche option for enthusiasts. X99 is simply one generation behind the currently available Intel X299 platform, as well as under warranty, so I can't think of any reason for them not to be supported.
Is there some change from when this was posted - https://www.asus.com/News/V5urzYAT6myCC1o2

According to the above, many X99 boards should be getting a Spectre/Meltdown fix BIOS update, including Sabretooth X99. I am a bit concerned however as even my Rampage V Edition 10 , the highest-end ASUS X99 motherboard, does not yet have the fixed BIOS actually available. If they are working back from the newest it seems it may take some time, but I can hope they will get to it soon.
 
Xaeos said:
I would be very disappointed with Asus not releasing Spectre/Meltdown fixes (on board, cpu microcode etc) for X99 platforms. Honestly they should still do it for most mainstream boards and chips within the last several years out of good security (higher end "named' boards like those from ROG first in line) - but it is of special importance they update X99 because it is part of the HEDP. High end desktop platform builds not only cost more, but are likely to have a longer lifespan; they're a premium, niche option for enthusiasts. X99 is simply one generation behind the currently available Intel X299 platform, as well as under warranty, so I can't think of any reason for them not to be supported.
Is there some change from when this was posted - https://www.asus.com/News/V5urzYAT6myCC1o2

According to the above, many X99 boards should be getting a Spectre/Meltdown fix BIOS update, including Sabretooth X99. I am a bit concerned however as even my Rampage V Edition 10 , the highest-end ASUS X99 motherboard, does not yet have the fixed BIOS actually available. If they are working back from the newest it seems it may take some time, but I can hope they will get to it soon.
Click to expand...

Interesting...
That same webpage only had 3 X99 boards listed on there when I e-mailed Asus barely two weeks ago, and they said they were NOT updating BIOS for any more X99 boards.
Perhaps enough of us bitched enough at them they took a step back and realized their bullshit excuses?

**AFTERTHOUGHT EDIT**
I just checked the Sabertooth X99 support page, they're only offering up the 3801 on there.
 
So wait, how big of a threat is spectre for end user devices? Isn't all about bridging between secure RAM allocations which typically aren't a thing used on consumer devices?
 
Install it and then run the "Inspectre" program to see if it's patched or not.
 
sblantipodi said:
They have the worst support on the market. No need to seek for more trouble.
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So...

You complain about Spectre.
You complain about how you're not a beta tester for a mature motherboard in which the only real reason to patch it at this point is Spectre and the reality is there is probably one or two guys still working on bios files for legacy boards.
You complain about the service you receive if you have problems and can't figure out the bios flashback on your own.

Sounds like you should have bought a different board or you should stop complaining.
 
came here after checking found the beta bios so there is hope!

Versjon 3902 Betaversjon 2018/04/267.94 MBytes
X99-A BIOS 3902
Beta BIOS
 
jrweis said:
Anyone know if you can use this Bios on an X99-Deluxe/U3.1?
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As a general rule, don't flash anything that isn't meant for your specific board. You'll have your own version soon enough if it hasn't been released already.
 
they updated the sabertooth as well - beta bios on the 26th. that wasnt on their original list of supported patches when it first came out.

maybe, maybe there is hope. this thing came with a 5 year warranty. if they dont patch it im RMA'ing it or selling it and moving on
 
as i didnt see a non beta yet i flashed my MB. didnt spend much time with my pc so dont know if it is unstable or buggy just yet. but no apparent problems so far anyway. and InSpectre flags my pc as protected, finally!
 
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