Here's what I did.  I flashed the latest BIOS and then installed this > https://www.grc.com/inspectre.htm
Then I disabled the Spectre "fix" (using this tool in link) and rebooted.  I plan to keep it this way until Intel gets it all figured out.  And if you were to get worried about not being protected, just enable Spectre from the tool again and reboot.
 
So technically I'm protected from Meltdown, but not Spectre.  But I'll say this, my system ran noticeably more sluggish before I disabled Spectre.

Sorry, just realised the link I posted was broken. If one follows the links from that document, to this one: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4073119/protect-against-speculative-execution-side-channel-vulnerabilities-in

There are official ways to enable or disable either part of the patches via the registry.

Aside from testing, I'm probably going to stay away from the updated microcode and the patches and the drivers.... The microcode is now being advised to be avoided, as are the patches, and the drivers are known to have major issues. Apparently, that Jan 9 deadline for the patches, wasn't enough time, and there wasn't enough testing done. I'm going to wait for new microcode and patches and update when the updates are not broken.

I feel bad for vendors, like EVGA, because I know that they invested their staff's time and effort in making BIOS updates available, only to have intel announce that they are no good, just two weeks later. I like to think that it might be worth EVGA's time, to make a tool to modify existing BIOS with updated microcode. Seems that it would be faster and cheaper, for them to do that, than to have to actually make and release all the new BIOS all over again.

Please note that we've temporarily removed the Spectre updates, as we are in the process of providing a new BIOS version with updated microcode.  I do not currently have an expected date of release, however, so we ask that you patiently wait while we work on this.  I will provide further updates when they are available.

EVGATech_LeeM
Please note that we've temporarily removed the Spectre updates, as we are in the process of providing a new BIOS version with updated microcode.  I do not currently have an expected date of release, however, so we ask that you patiently wait while we work on this.  I will provide further updates when they are available.

Thanks for keeping us informed Lee...

bdary

EVGATech_LeeM
Please note that we've temporarily removed the Spectre updates, as we are in the process of providing a new BIOS version with updated microcode.  I do not currently have an expected date of release, however, so we ask that you patiently wait while we work on this.  I will provide further updates when they are available.

Thanks for keeping us informed Lee...

+1
Should we remove 2.05 on the X99 Classified and return to 2.04?

I'll continue to stay on 2.05, but will stay with what I described in post #71 above until the new BIOS is released.

EVGATech_LeeM
Please note that we've temporarily removed the Spectre updates, as we are in the process of providing a new BIOS version with updated microcode.  I do not currently have an expected date of release, however, so we ask that you patiently wait while we work on this.  I will provide further updates when they are available.

Man, I sure hope intel is subsidising this extra workload for you guys.... Somehow I'm not exactly confident of that though ;)
Good effort, we appreciate it.

bcavnaugh

bdary

EVGATech_LeeM
Please note that we've temporarily removed the Spectre updates, as we are in the process of providing a new BIOS version with updated microcode.  I do not currently have an expected date of release, however, so we ask that you patiently wait while we work on this.  I will provide further updates when they are available.

Thanks for keeping us informed Lee...

+1
Should we remove 2.05 on the X99 Classified and return to 2.04?

If you haven't seen issues, then I wouldn't worry about flashing back to a previous version.  At this time, we don't expect people to have issues with the BIOS, but if you do run into something that can't be explained by other causes, then try flashing to 2.04 and see if the issue goes away.

CaptaPraelium

EVGATech_LeeM
Please note that we've temporarily removed the Spectre updates, as we are in the process of providing a new BIOS version with updated microcode.  I do not currently have an expected date of release, however, so we ask that you patiently wait while we work on this.  I will provide further updates when they are available.

Man, I sure hope intel is subsidising this extra workload for you guys.... Somehow I'm not exactly confident of that though ;)
Good effort, we appreciate it.

This is one of those situations that demonstrates why most computer hardware business relationships are defined as "partnerships".  Whether we're working with Intel or Nvidia, things like this happen, and both sides work towards finding a way to resolve issues.  While it certainly puts more of a workload on us, you can probably imagine that Intel is working overtime to resolve the situation quickly.  After all, while EVGA has its own set of needs to provide updated firmware, test boards, etc. for EVGA's customers, Intel has to do the same for all of its vendors and partners on both the desktop and enterprise side, which vastly outnumbers our customer base.  When you think of it that way, I'm OK with the extra workload that it puts on us, lol.

Looks like a new Bios should be right around the corner for our X99 boards:
 
http://www.guru3d.com/news-story/intel-releases-stable-spectre-updates-for-skylake.html
 
(This is For Skylake CPU's, but Haswell-E/Broadwell-E CPU's won't be far behind)