microcode_ctl: microcode_ctl microcode_ctl: microcode_ctl: The microcode_ctl utility is a companion to the IA32 microcode microcode_ctl: driver written by Tigran Aivazian . The microcode_ctl: utility has two uses: a) it decodes and sends new microcode to microcode_ctl: the kernel driver to be uploaded to Intel IA32 family microcode_ctl: processors. (Pentium Pro, PII, Celeron, PIII, Xeon Pentium 4 microcode_ctl: etc.) b) it signals the kernel driver to release any buffers it microcode_ctl: may hold. The microcode update is volatile and needs to be microcode_ctl: uploaded on each system boot i.e. it doesn't reflash your cpu microcode_ctl: permanently, reboot and it reverts back to the old microcode.