The shipment of new units of Intel Xeon Max processors, better known as “Sapphire Rapids”, has suffered a setback when it was paralyzed after discovering a new bug present in some specific models of the processors.
As they say in Tom’s Hardware, some models of the 4th generation Intel Xeon may freeze the system under certain specific conditions. Affected models are a subset of “Medium Core Count” SPR-MCCs with a monolithic design up to 32 cores and have not been detected on models with HBM or higher core counts (XCC models up to 60 cores).
Intel is investigating the issue for a fix, possibly in the form of a firmware update. This update, according to Intel, will not have a performance impact according to their expectations. However, the bug that causes the system to hang does not appear with commercially available software, so it appears to be a very specific one-time bug.
The company has not disclosed which specific processors the bug has been detected on, but given the specifics of the conditions (non-commercial software and a subset of processors), it may not be too problematic for Sapphire Rapids sales.
In any case, it is one more problem that adds to the delays that the company has suffered with this generation of processors.
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Anthony Delgado
Computer Engineer by training, writer and hardware analyst at Geeknetic since 2011. I love gutting everything that comes my way, especially the latest hardware that we receive here for reviews. In my free time I mess around with 3d printers, drones and other gadgets. For anything here you have me.
