By updating the microcode, you can give the operating system better control over the branch predictor, preventing one process from being affected by another.
Last year Intel released its first microcode update and even upgraded its firmware for Broadwell, Haswell, Skylake, Kaby Lake and Coffee Lake machines, but users later found that the update caused the system to crash and reboot. Initially, only Broadwell and Haswell systems were identified that were affected, and later Skylake, Kaby Lake, and Coffee Lake were also reported to have restarted.
Earlier this month, Intel also offered new microcode for the Skylake processor, which is available on Skylake variant processors, including Skylake X, Skylake D, Skylake SP, and mainstream chips after Skylake, which are based on 7 or 8 generations of Core The identity of Kaby Lake or Coffee Lake. However older Broadwell and Haswell processors cannot be fixed, and Intel said micro-code for Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge, Broadwell and Broadwell processors is under test.
Source: neowin, via Intel
