Re: [tip:x86/microcode] x86/microcode_intel_early.c: Early updateucode on Intel's CPU

From: H. Peter Anvin
Date: Wed Dec 19 2012 - 18:23:41 EST


On 12/19/2012 02:55 PM, Jacob Shin wrote:
>
> Well, really the problem is with any memory hole above 4GB that is too
> big to be covered by variable range MTRRs as UC. Because the kernel
> use to just simply do init_memory_mapping for 4GB ~ top of memory,
> any memory hole above 4GB are marked as WB in PATs.
>
> How is this handled in Intel architecture? If there are memory holes
> that are too big to be covered by variable range MTRRs as UC, are
> there other MTRR like CPU registers that the BIOS programs?
>

Intel CPUs don't have the TOM augmentation to the MTRR mechanism, and so
MTRRs need to explicitly enable caching of memory rather than the other
way around.

-hpa

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