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Notes on the Pentium's microcode circuitry

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180 points leotravis10 | 3 comments | 31 Mar 25 18:35 UTC | HN request time: 0.652s | source
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kens ◴[31 Mar 25 18:51 UTC] No.43538380[source]▶
Author here for your Pentium questions :-)
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1. dreamcompiler ◴[01 Apr 25 04:20 UTC] No.43542817[source]▶
Isn't the Pentium's microcode upgradable? Or is that only in later chips?

These fixed transistors imply no upgradability.

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2. kens ◴[01 Apr 25 05:23 UTC] No.43543118[source]▶
Microcode updates were first implemented in the Pentium Pro. When the original Pentium had the infamous FDIV bug, the only fix was for Intel to replace the processors at a cost of $475 million.
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3. sroussey ◴[01 Apr 25 05:57 UTC] No.43543303[source]▶
Good thing win95 came out soon after and filled everyone’s coffers from new equipment buying