Eli5: Do processors in computers and smartphones have their own firmware? Are they programmed in Assembly?

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Eli5: Do processors in computers and smartphones have their own firmware? Are they programmed in Assembly?

In: Technology

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Yes, some processors have ‘microcode’ which is essentially firmware. Externally the CPU will execute standard machine language for that architecture (eg x86), but internally the CPU will be executing its own RISC-like microinstructions. Intel can use this to patch any hardware bugs in the physical CPU.

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