Intel charges customers to "unlock" CPU features
Intel's upgradable processor: good sense or utter
catastrophe?
Intel Offers CPU Feature Unlocking Service, For a
Price
In order to unlock the processor, a user much purchase an
upgrade key, install specific Intel software which then activates the key. It’s
not just that simple however, Intel’s requirements for the upgrade state “the
computer system to have an upgrade-enabled Intel CPU, BIOS, and chipset, network
hardware and software, as well as connection with a power source and the
Internet.” So a user will likely also require a compatible Intel board or one
specifically licensed to provide the service, and you can almost guarantee this
won’t make it cheaper.
Hhmm, a product tying requirement. Not
likely to be too popular, this all from 2010, and where is it now? Notice all
the liability gets shifted to the platform vendor, who as a class likely
resisted the idea.
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