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MacBook Pro and Spectre / Meltdown

For MacBook Pro, will Apple cover replacement of the cpu chip that currently has design flaws known as Spectre (CVE-2017-5753) and Meltdown (CVE-2017-5754). Intel has noted that they plan to have new chips available later this year (2018).

Background: I know that Google's Project Zero provided information to chip (Intel, AMD, Qualcomm etc) manufacturers and computer manufactures (Apple et al) in June 2017. While a software mitigation has been released for Apple OS (and other OSes), there is a negative impact on performance (depending on workload). I don't want to purchase a new computer if Apples hardware warranty does not cover the hardware chip component design flaws.

Technical support indicated that they thought Apple would replace / service the computer under hardware warranty ... but were not sure.

Posted on Mar 17, 2018 8:48 AM

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5 replies

Mar 17, 2018 12:49 PM in response to ErstwhileIII

Note: The firmware and software released are mitigations for hardware (design) flaw in cpu chips including Intel. There are indeed performance impacts, though apparently based on particular workloads (e.g. ref http://www.zdnet.com/article/linux-meltdown-patch-up-to-800-percent-cpu-overhead -netflix-tests-show/).


Hardware defects (including design defects in parts used to manufacture computers) should be covered under hardware warranty. What contractual support Apple has from its suppliers of hardware parts to "keep Apple whole", is unknown.


While applying firmware and software mitigations may remove the vulnerability, it does have an impact on performance. Users should get "hardware warranty" repair/replacement or other forms of compensation for getting less that what was purchased.

MacBook Pro and Spectre / Meltdown

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