intel-microcode when installed on an i7-6850k based system breaks overclock

Robert, you have a -K part, which officially "doesn't forbid" overclocking as far as I know, and this is the only reason I have not immediately closed this bug as invalid.

It looks like now you get to find out if that means Intel *supports* overclocking or not on -K processors, instead of just passively not blocking it outright: start with ASUS support, it is possible that a properly updated BIOS/UEFI would still allow overclocking on the new microcode.

For the record, updating the MSRs for overclocking *after* the microcode is loaded on the processor, as opposed to updating the microcode *after* the overclocking was done by the UEFI/BIOS *can* make all the difference. That means your BIOS/UEFI needs to have the latest microcode update (and you won't need the intel-microcode package).

If ASUS can't help you, good luck contacting Intel about this...

(for the record: this bug should be set to "won't fix", as in "**can't** fix", but I don't have the required permission to set the "won't fix" state on the bug report).

It might be fixed by Intel in a future microcode update, but unless someone tests this and tell us about it, we won't even know about it being fixed.

      I did get a recent BIOS upgrade from Asus, it now shows non-vulnerable
for both variants of Spectre and for Meltdown with 3.13.0-33 kernel, so I'm
good, don't know how this might impact folks with other motherboards.

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On Sat, 10 Feb 2018, Henrique de Moraes Holschuh wrote:

> Date: Sat, 10 Feb 2018 02:31:54 -0000
> From: Henrique de Moraes Holschuh <email address hidden>
> To: <email address hidden>
> Subject: [Bug 1748543] Re: intel-microcode when installed on an i7-6850k based
> system running Artful breaks overclock
>
> Robert, you have a -K part, which officially "doesn't forbid"
> overclocking as far as I know, and this is the only reason I have not
> immediately closed this bug as invalid.
>
> It looks like now you get to find out if that means Intel *supports*
> overclocking or not on -K processors, instead of just passively not
> blocking it outright: start with ASUS support, it is possible that a
> properly updated BIOS/UEFI would still allow overclocking on the new
> microcode.
>
> For the record, updating the MSRs for overclocking *after* the microcode
> is loaded on the processor, as opposed to updating the microcode *after*
> the overclocking was done by the UEFI/BIOS *can* make all the
> difference. That means your BIOS/UEFI needs to have the latest
> microcode update (and you won't need the intel-microcode package).
>
> If ASUS can't help you, good luck contacting Intel about this...
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1748543
>
> Title:
> intel-microcode when installed on an i7-6850k based system running
> Artful breaks overclock
>
> Status in intel-microcode package in Ubuntu:
> New
>
> Bug description:
> I have an I7-6850k machine Asus X99-A motherboard, 128GB memory with
> Artful 17.10 installed. The official clock speed of this processor is
> 3.6 Ghz, I have it clocked at 4.3 Ghz, however, if I install the
> intel-microcode package, the machine ignores the BIOS settings and
> reverts to 3.6 Ghz. Since this package is necessary from a security
> perspective I'm stuck with either being insecure or losing an enormous
> amount of performance.
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 17.10
> Package: intel-microcode (not installed)
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.13.0-32.35-lowlatency 4.13.13
> Uname: Linux 4.13.0-32-lowlatency x86_64
> ApportVersion: 2.20.7-0ubuntu3.7
> Architecture: amd64
> CurrentDesktop: MATE
> Date: Fri Feb 9 13:04:14 2018
> InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-05-05 (280 days ago)
> InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-MATE 17.04 "Zesty Zapus" - Release amd64 (20170412)
> SourcePackage: intel-microcode
> UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to artful on 2017-10-20 (112 days ago)
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/intel-microcode/+bug/...

For the record:

Now that Microsoft started distributing the recent batch of Intel microcode updates, there are reports everywhere from Windows 10 users, that the Microcode updates do break i7-6850K over-clocking. As expected, really.

The recommended action is to demand a firmware update from the motherboard vendor, for motherboards that were sold with over-clocking as one of their key features.

      Not sure why that would be as expected, Intel specifically sold the
'K' part to have unlocked multiplier. Any firmware upgrades ought to retain
the features people paid for.

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On Mon, 24 Sep 2018, Henrique de Moraes Holschuh wrote:

> Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2018 11:19:42 -0000
> From: Henrique de Moraes Holschuh <email address hidden>
> To: <email address hidden>
> Subject: [Bug 1748543] Re: intel-microcode when installed on an i7-6850k based
> system running Artful breaks overclock
>
> For the record:
>
> Now that Microsoft started distributing the recent batch of Intel
> microcode updates, there are reports everywhere from Windows 10 users,
> that the Microcode updates do break i7-6850K over-clocking. As
> expected, really.
>
> The recommended action is to demand a firmware update from the
> motherboard vendor, for motherboards that were sold with over-clocking
> as one of their key features.
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1748543
>
> Title:
> intel-microcode when installed on an i7-6850k based system running
> Artful breaks overclock
>
> Status in intel-microcode package in Ubuntu:
> New
>
> Bug description:
> I have an I7-6850k machine Asus X99-A motherboard, 128GB memory with
> Artful 17.10 installed. The official clock speed of this processor is
> 3.6 Ghz, I have it clocked at 4.3 Ghz, however, if I install the
> intel-microcode package, the machine ignores the BIOS settings and
> reverts to 3.6 Ghz. Since this package is necessary from a security
> perspective I'm stuck with either being insecure or losing an enormous
> amount of performance.
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 17.10
> Package: intel-microcode (not installed)
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.13.0-32.35-lowlatency 4.13.13
> Uname: Linux 4.13.0-32-lowlatency x86_64
> ApportVersion: 2.20.7-0ubuntu3.7
> Architecture: amd64
> CurrentDesktop: MATE
> Date: Fri Feb 9 13:04:14 2018
> InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-05-05 (280 days ago)
> InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-MATE 17.04 "Zesty Zapus" - Release amd64 (20170412)
> SourcePackage: intel-microcode
> UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to artful on 2017-10-20 (112 days ago)
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/intel-microcode/+bug/1748543/+subscriptions
>

On Mon, 24 Sep 2018, Robert Dinse wrote:
> Not sure why that would be as expected, Intel specifically sold the
> 'K' part to have unlocked multiplier. Any firmware upgrades ought to retain
> the features people paid for.

Well, it was reported to happen on Linux, and it is the sort of issue
that is not related to the operating system.

So, *as expected*, it was also going to trigger on Microsoft Windows.

All it took was for the microcode update to start being distributed more
widely [by Microsoft] to Windows users for it to show up on several news
outlets.

I am not personally sure Intel is really to blame here, it depends
entirely on the motherboard vendor not doing *anything* unsupported [by
Intel] to further enhance the overclocking capabilities of the
motherboard.

So, you'd need to ask your motherboard vendor *and* Intel about it, to
know the full story...

--
  Henrique Holschuh

Canonical can you confirm:

This 0xb00002a is removed and replaced with 0xb00002c in your code base.

Thanks

      Last time I queried Asus they told me their Microcode was not vulnerable
but the test script says it is.

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On Tue, 25 Sep 2018, Henrique de Moraes Holschuh wrote:

> Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2018 17:31:19 -0000
> From: Henrique de Moraes Holschuh <email address hidden>
> To: <email address hidden>
> Subject: Re: [Bug 1748543] Re: intel-microcode when installed on an i7-6850k
> based system running Artful breaks overclock
>
> On Mon, 24 Sep 2018, Robert Dinse wrote:
>> Not sure why that would be as expected, Intel specifically sold the
>> 'K' part to have unlocked multiplier. Any firmware upgrades ought to retain
>> the features people paid for.
>
> Well, it was reported to happen on Linux, and it is the sort of issue
> that is not related to the operating system.
>
> So, *as expected*, it was also going to trigger on Microsoft Windows.
>
> All it took was for the microcode update to start being distributed more
> widely [by Microsoft] to Windows users for it to show up on several news
> outlets.
>
> I am not personally sure Intel is really to blame here, it depends
> entirely on the motherboard vendor not doing *anything* unsupported [by
> Intel] to further enhance the overclocking capabilities of the
> motherboard.
>
> So, you'd need to ask your motherboard vendor *and* Intel about it, to
> know the full story...
>
> --
> Henrique Holschuh
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1748543
>
> Title:
> intel-microcode when installed on an i7-6850k based system running
> Artful breaks overclock
>
> Status in intel-microcode package in Ubuntu:
> New
>
> Bug description:
> I have an I7-6850k machine Asus X99-A motherboard, 128GB memory with
> Artful 17.10 installed. The official clock speed of this processor is
> 3.6 Ghz, I have it clocked at 4.3 Ghz, however, if I install the
> intel-microcode package, the machine ignores the BIOS settings and
> reverts to 3.6 Ghz. Since this package is necessary from a security
> perspective I'm stuck with either being insecure or losing an enormous
> amount of performance.
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 17.10
> Package: intel-microcode (not installed)
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.13.0-32.35-lowlatency 4.13.13
> Uname: Linux 4.13.0-32-lowlatency x86_64
> ApportVersion: 2.20.7-0ubuntu3.7
> Architecture: amd64
> CurrentDesktop: MATE
> Date: Fri Feb 9 13:04:14 2018
> InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-05-05 (280 days ago)
> InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-MATE 17.04 "Zesty Zapus" - Release amd64 (20170412)
> SourcePackage: intel-microcode
> UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to artful on 2017-10-20 (112 days ago)
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/intel-microcode/+bug/1748543/+subscriptions
>

@pragyan:

Ubuntu is shipping the same microcode updates as Debian, so I can answer that.

The current version of intel-microcode in Debian and Ubuntu ships what is inside Intel's 20180807a "Linux microcode" package as far as the Intel x86-64 processors are concerned.

For the i7-6850K (sig: 0x406f1), that would be revision 0xb00002e.

Looks like I should add:

As far as I know, Ubuntu Artful is now unsupported, so users of Ubuntu Artful must ensure they switched to Ubuntu Bionic Beaver *or* manually update their intel-microcode package to the one in Bionic Beaver for them to have microcode 0xb00002e.

I am not sure this will fix this issue, however. A report explicitly stating whether Ubuntu Bionic Beaver is affected by this bug report would be really helpful.

Henrique
Do you have any reported issues with Ubuntu Bionic Beaver that ships with Intel's latest OS loadable microcode package 20180807a?
Thank you

On Wed, 26 Sep 2018, <email address hidden> wrote:
> Do you have any reported issues with Ubuntu Bionic Beaver that ships with Intel's latest OS loadable microcode package 20180807a?

I am not sure. We need an overclocker with an i7-6850K to test it and
be explicit about it, since this bug report has "Artful" in the title.

--
  Henrique Holschuh

      I am an overclocker with i7-6850k, specifically I have it on an Asus
board with all six cores running at 4.3 Ghz and reliably at that. How do I
obtain this particular micorocode to test? The last one caused the CPU to
run at 3.6 Ghz with microcode installed so it is running without microcode
form Linux and just what Asus supplies.

      Asus says this motherboard with i7-6850k is not susceptible to meltdown
and spectre but script says it is susceptible to the 2nd variant of meltdown.

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On Thu, 27 Sep 2018, Henrique de Moraes Holschuh wrote:

> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2018 00:01:23 -0000
> From: Henrique de Moraes Holschuh <email address hidden>
> To: <email address hidden>
> Subject: Re: [Bug 1748543] Re: intel-microcode when installed on an i7-6850k
> based system running Artful breaks overclock
>
> On Wed, 26 Sep 2018, <email address hidden> wrote:
>> Do you have any reported issues with Ubuntu Bionic Beaver that ships with Intel's latest OS loadable microcode package 20180807a?
>
> I am not sure. We need an overclocker with an i7-6850K to test it and
> be explicit about it, since this bug report has "Artful" in the title.
>
> --
> Henrique Holschuh
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1748543
>
> Title:
> intel-microcode when installed on an i7-6850k based system running
> Artful breaks overclock
>
> Status in intel-microcode package in Ubuntu:
> New
>
> Bug description:
> I have an I7-6850k machine Asus X99-A motherboard, 128GB memory with
> Artful 17.10 installed. The official clock speed of this processor is
> 3.6 Ghz, I have it clocked at 4.3 Ghz, however, if I install the
> intel-microcode package, the machine ignores the BIOS settings and
> reverts to 3.6 Ghz. Since this package is necessary from a security
> perspective I'm stuck with either being insecure or losing an enormous
> amount of performance.
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 17.10
> Package: intel-microcode (not installed)
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.13.0-32.35-lowlatency 4.13.13
> Uname: Linux 4.13.0-32-lowlatency x86_64
> ApportVersion: 2.20.7-0ubuntu3.7
> Architecture: amd64
> CurrentDesktop: MATE
> Date: Fri Feb 9 13:04:14 2018
> InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-05-05 (280 days ago)
> InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-MATE 17.04 "Zesty Zapus" - Release amd64 (20170412)
> SourcePackage: intel-microcode
> UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to artful on 2017-10-20 (112 days ago)
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/intel-microcode/+bug/1748543/+subscriptions
>

@nanook:

What we need explicit testing for is this: does the latest version of the intel-microcode package which is present in the latest Ubuntu (Cosmic Cuttlefish *or* up-to-date Bionic Beaver/18.04.01 LTS *or* up-to-date Xenial LTS 16.04.01) disables overclocking on the i7-6850K ?

To test this, you need to install the intel-microcode package, and reboot. Then, you check if overclocking is still active *while Ubuntu is running* (overclocking will be working in UEFI/BIOS, regardless).

Removing the intel-microcode package and rebooting will undo all changes, so this is a safe test.

Please report the contents of /proc/cpuinfo before you installed intel-microcode, and after you installed intel-microcode *and rebooted to activate it*.

Thank you!

      I will test this weekend.

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On Fri, 28 Sep 2018, Henrique de Moraes Holschuh wrote:

> Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2018 10:45:22 -0000
> From: Henrique de Moraes Holschuh <email address hidden>
> To: <email address hidden>
> Subject: [Bug 1748543] Re: intel-microcode when installed on an i7-6850k based
> system running Artful breaks overclock
>
> @nanook:
>
> What we need explicit testing for is this: does the latest version of
> the intel-microcode package which is present in the latest Ubuntu
> (Cosmic Cuttlefish *or* up-to-date Bionic Beaver/18.04.01 LTS *or* up-
> to-date Xenial LTS 16.04.01) disables overclocking on the i7-6850K ?
>
> To test this, you need to install the intel-microcode package, and
> reboot. Then, you check if overclocking is still active *while Ubuntu
> is running* (overclocking will be working in UEFI/BIOS, regardless).
>
> Removing the intel-microcode package and rebooting will undo all
> changes, so this is a safe test.
>
> Please report the contents of /proc/cpuinfo before you installed intel-
> microcode, and after you installed intel-microcode *and rebooted to
> activate it*.
>
> Thank you!
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1748543
>
> Title:
> intel-microcode when installed on an i7-6850k based system running
> Artful breaks overclock
>
> Status in intel-microcode package in Ubuntu:
> New
>
> Bug description:
> I have an I7-6850k machine Asus X99-A motherboard, 128GB memory with
> Artful 17.10 installed. The official clock speed of this processor is
> 3.6 Ghz, I have it clocked at 4.3 Ghz, however, if I install the
> intel-microcode package, the machine ignores the BIOS settings and
> reverts to 3.6 Ghz. Since this package is necessary from a security
> perspective I'm stuck with either being insecure or losing an enormous
> amount of performance.
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 17.10
> Package: intel-microcode (not installed)
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.13.0-32.35-lowlatency 4.13.13
> Uname: Linux 4.13.0-32-lowlatency x86_64
> ApportVersion: 2.20.7-0ubuntu3.7
> Architecture: amd64
> CurrentDesktop: MATE
> Date: Fri Feb 9 13:04:14 2018
> InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-05-05 (280 days ago)
> InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-MATE 17.04 "Zesty Zapus" - Release amd64 (20170412)
> SourcePackage: intel-microcode
> UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to artful on 2017-10-20 (112 days ago)
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/intel-microcode/+bug/1748543/+subscriptions
>

From reports elsewhere in the Internet, made by Microsoft Windows users with KB4100347 installed. Behavior in Linux might be slightly different.

* Several motherboard vendors affected (at least ASUS, EVGA);
* Motherboards based on X99 with overclocking features available through vendor UEFI/BIOS;
* RAM and uncore overclocking not affected by this issue (overclocked values are preserved);
* CPU voltage not affected (changed voltage set points are preserved).

Processors reported as affected:
Intel 6800k, 5930k, 6900k, 6950x, Xeon (no data about xeon models, assume socket-compatible with X99 chipset).

Reports imply the microcode update itself is the problem, not the updated microcode: Motherboards whose UEFI/BIOS already has the latest microcode revision are *not* affected by this issue, and overclock as expected.

      Unfortunately, the new Microcode did not fix the overclocking issue on
an i7-6850k on an Asus X99A board. Before and After of /proc/cpuinfo are
attacked as files.

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On Fri, 28 Sep 2018, Henrique de Moraes Holschuh wrote:

> Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2018 17:12:55 -0000
> From: Henrique de Moraes Holschuh <email address hidden>
> To: <email address hidden>
> Subject: [Bug 1748543] Re: intel-microcode when installed on an i7-6850k based
> system running Artful breaks overclock
>
>> From reports elsewhere in the Internet, made by Microsoft Windows users
> with KB4100347 installed. Behavior in Linux might be slightly different.
>
> * Several motherboard vendors affected (at least ASUS, EVGA);
> * Motherboards based on X99 with overclocking features available through vendor UEFI/BIOS;
> * RAM and uncore overclocking not affected by this issue (overclocked values are preserved);
> * CPU voltage not affected (changed voltage set points are preserved).
>
> Processors reported as affected:
> Intel 6800k, 5930k, 6900k, 6950x, Xeon (no data about xeon models, assume socket-compatible with X99 chipset).
>
> Reports imply the microcode update itself is the problem, not the
> updated microcode: Motherboards whose UEFI/BIOS already has the latest
> microcode revision are *not* affected by this issue, and overclock as
> expected.
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1748543
>
> Title:
> intel-microcode when installed on an i7-6850k based system running
> Artful breaks overclock
>
> Status in intel-microcode package in Ubuntu:
> New
>
> Bug description:
> I have an I7-6850k machine Asus X99-A motherboard, 128GB memory with
> Artful 17.10 installed. The official clock speed of this processor is
> 3.6 Ghz, I have it clocked at 4.3 Ghz, however, if I install the
> intel-microcode package, the machine ignores the BIOS settings and
> reverts to 3.6 Ghz. Since this package is necessary from a security
> perspective I'm stuck with either being insecure or losing an enormous
> amount of performance.
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 17.10
> Package: intel-microcode (not installed)
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.13.0-32.35-lowlatency 4.13.13
> Uname: Linux 4.13.0-32-lowlatency x86_64
> ApportVersion: 2.20.7-0ubuntu3.7
> Architecture: amd64
> CurrentDesktop: MATE
> Date: Fri Feb 9 13:04:14 2018
> InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-05-05 (280 days ago)
> InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-MATE 17.04 "Zesty Zapus" - Release amd64 (20170412)
> SourcePackage: intel-microcode
> UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to artful on 2017-10-20 (112 days ago)
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/intel-microcode/+bug/1748543/+subscriptions
>

@pragyan:

Confirmed by @nanook on #18 that the problem still exists on the Linux microcode package 20180807a.

Also, by the bug report date, this issue has existed in the relevant microcode updates for a while: it is not a recent regression.

      Asus, my motherboard vendor flat out lies. They say the i7-6850 on the
x99 platform is not vulnerable, yet it does test vulnerable to Spectre version
2 using the meltdown-specter.sh test script.

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On Tue, 25 Sep 2018, Henrique de Moraes Holschuh wrote:

> Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2018 17:31:19 -0000
> From: Henrique de Moraes Holschuh <email address hidden>
> To: <email address hidden>
> Subject: Re: [Bug 1748543] Re: intel-microcode when installed on an i7-6850k
> based system running Artful breaks overclock
>
> On Mon, 24 Sep 2018, Robert Dinse wrote:
>> Not sure why that would be as expected, Intel specifically sold the
>> 'K' part to have unlocked multiplier. Any firmware upgrades ought to retain
>> the features people paid for.
>
> Well, it was reported to happen on Linux, and it is the sort of issue
> that is not related to the operating system.
>
> So, *as expected*, it was also going to trigger on Microsoft Windows.
>
> All it took was for the microcode update to start being distributed more
> widely [by Microsoft] to Windows users for it to show up on several news
> outlets.
>
> I am not personally sure Intel is really to blame here, it depends
> entirely on the motherboard vendor not doing *anything* unsupported [by
> Intel] to further enhance the overclocking capabilities of the
> motherboard.
>
> So, you'd need to ask your motherboard vendor *and* Intel about it, to
> know the full story...
>
> --
> Henrique Holschuh
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1748543
>
> Title:
> intel-microcode when installed on an i7-6850k based system running
> Artful breaks overclock
>
> Status in intel-microcode package in Ubuntu:
> New
>
> Bug description:
> I have an I7-6850k machine Asus X99-A motherboard, 128GB memory with
> Artful 17.10 installed. The official clock speed of this processor is
> 3.6 Ghz, I have it clocked at 4.3 Ghz, however, if I install the
> intel-microcode package, the machine ignores the BIOS settings and
> reverts to 3.6 Ghz. Since this package is necessary from a security
> perspective I'm stuck with either being insecure or losing an enormous
> amount of performance.
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 17.10
> Package: intel-microcode (not installed)
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.13.0-32.35-lowlatency 4.13.13
> Uname: Linux 4.13.0-32-lowlatency x86_64
> ApportVersion: 2.20.7-0ubuntu3.7
> Architecture: amd64
> CurrentDesktop: MATE
> Date: Fri Feb 9 13:04:14 2018
> InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-05-05 (280 days ago)
> InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-MATE 17.04 "Zesty Zapus" - Release amd64 (20170412)
> SourcePackage: intel-microcode
> UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to artful on 2017-10-20 (112 days ago)
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+sou...

Just to report the situation has gotten worse with Disco Dingo, now i7-6850 will not overclock even with microcode purged. Further, I have determined it is NOT a kernel issue because it will not overclock on the old kernel either. So I have no idea what Canonical has done but I'm NOT a happy camper.

CPU microcode can be also be updated by the motherboard firmware. Have you upgraded your motherboard firmware recently and/or installed uefi capsules?

      No, I have not.

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On Thu, 9 May 2019, Dimitri John Ledkov wrote:

> Date: Thu, 09 May 2019 00:34:16 -0000
> From: Dimitri John Ledkov <email address hidden>
> Reply-To: Bug 1748543 <email address hidden>
> To: <email address hidden>
> Subject: [Bug 1748543] Re: intel-microcode when installed on an i7-6850k based
> system breaks overclock
>
> CPU microcode can be also be updated by the motherboard firmware. Have
> you upgraded your motherboard firmware recently and/or installed uefi
> capsules?
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1748543
>
> Title:
> intel-microcode when installed on an i7-6850k based system breaks
> overclock
>
> Status in intel-microcode package in Ubuntu:
> Confirmed
>
> Bug description:
> I have an I7-6850k machine Asus X99-A motherboard, 128GB memory with
> Artful 17.10 installed. The official clock speed of this processor is
> 3.6 Ghz, I have it clocked at 4.3 Ghz, however, if I install the
> intel-microcode package, the machine ignores the BIOS settings and
> reverts to 3.6 Ghz. Since this package is necessary from a security
> perspective I'm stuck with either being insecure or losing an enormous
> amount of performance.
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 17.10
> Package: intel-microcode (not installed)
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.13.0-32.35-lowlatency 4.13.13
> Uname: Linux 4.13.0-32-lowlatency x86_64
> ApportVersion: 2.20.7-0ubuntu3.7
> Architecture: amd64
> CurrentDesktop: MATE
> Date: Fri Feb 9 13:04:14 2018
> InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-05-05 (280 days ago)
> InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-MATE 17.04 "Zesty Zapus" - Release amd64 (20170412)
> SourcePackage: intel-microcode
> UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to artful on 2017-10-20 (112 days ago)
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/intel-microcode/+bug/1748543/+subscriptions
>

I still have not upgraded motherboard bios / microcode as last attempt failed, but now, without microcode from Ubuntu being installed but with a 4.18.0 kernel I still have installed because networking breaks with 5.0.x kernels on this machine, overclocking is again working.

At this point I compiled a mainline 5.1.0 kernel, both networking and overclocking are working with it.

     This was fixed a long time ago, not an issue with 5.13 kernel.

On 7/31/21 9:57 AM, Norbert wrote:
> ** Tags removed: artful
>