Thursday, July 25th 2013
Intel Cracks Down on Motherboard Vendors Offering Overclocking on non-Z Chipset
Over the past couple of months, motherboard vendors from across the industry offered BIOS updates for their motherboards based on Intel B85 Express and H87 Express chipsets, which enable CPU overclocking for Intel's unlocked Core processors denoted by "K" brand extension (Core i7-4770K, i5-4670K). This reportedly hasn't gone down well with Intel. Intel's Bxx and Hxx chipsets are significantly cheaper than its Zxx series chipset. Sensing a clear threat to its revenue, from the prospect of motherboard vendors coming up with high-end or overclocking-ready (strong CPU VRM) motherboards based on cheaper chipsets in the near future, Intel cracked down on them.
Intel is giving final touches to a CPU microcode update that restricts Core "K" Haswell processors from overclocking on chipsets other than Z87 Express. A microcode update can be deployed both through BIOS updates, and surreptitiously through Windows Update. Intel's used the tried and tested "stability" bogey to justify the update. While it's true that motherboards based on B85 and H87 tend to feature weaker CPU VRM, there's nothing to say that ASUS wouldn't have gone on to design its next ROG Maximus on H87 Express, and save on manufacturing costs. While it's purely hypothetical, something like that wouldn't be in Intel's commercial interests. What next? Intel will push this new microcode update on to motherboard vendors, instructing them to issue BIOS updates with it; and future batches of Intel "K" CPUs may not support overclocking. If that isn't enough to contain the problem, Intel may give Microsoft a ring, and ask it to push the update through Windows Update. It tried that once in the past.
Source:
Heise.de
Intel is giving final touches to a CPU microcode update that restricts Core "K" Haswell processors from overclocking on chipsets other than Z87 Express. A microcode update can be deployed both through BIOS updates, and surreptitiously through Windows Update. Intel's used the tried and tested "stability" bogey to justify the update. While it's true that motherboards based on B85 and H87 tend to feature weaker CPU VRM, there's nothing to say that ASUS wouldn't have gone on to design its next ROG Maximus on H87 Express, and save on manufacturing costs. While it's purely hypothetical, something like that wouldn't be in Intel's commercial interests. What next? Intel will push this new microcode update on to motherboard vendors, instructing them to issue BIOS updates with it; and future batches of Intel "K" CPUs may not support overclocking. If that isn't enough to contain the problem, Intel may give Microsoft a ring, and ask it to push the update through Windows Update. It tried that once in the past.
85 Comments on Intel Cracks Down on Motherboard Vendors Offering Overclocking on non-Z Chipset
Amd is looking better day by day.
Well time to disable non-security Windows Updates and bios updates for everyone on those boards.
I am guessing though that a clean-install+re flashing to older bios could allow OC again?
Or is the code changed forever for that CPU?
Intel also took away the 4 extra OC bins for cpus with turbo boost for Haswell already and now this
Besides, these cheap B85 and H87 boards manage reasonably good overclocks.
Trying to block this by hindering tools at my disposal, in this case the MB's, just to enhance their sales in a market they almost entierly dominate as it is? Sorry, but this is pure greed.
I may be an AMD power user myself, but as a business, I use just as many Intel chips. This will most definitely impact my future recommendations, away from Intel for cost saving processors where overclocking is concerned.
Intel rules the CPU market, save for one location, the inexpensive performers and overclockers. This is where AMD does indeed have a strong foothold, and a place where Intel could make more money if they really wanted too. Especially when it comes to "general use" and gaming builds.
I left Intel a long time ago once I realized that I can get top notch general, gaming, and overclocked performance out of AMD processors at a lower cost, and this still hold true today. This is now how you win customers, this is how you drive them away.
=/
That board is super cheap and allows overclocking with the Z77 chipset.
Overclocking a K or non K chip should really not be done on B85 and H87 board.
In other words if you can afford a K processor then you certainly can pay for a $99 or more motherboard.
Ooh they were the days that's for sure. I do believe you read it wrong
Oh yes.
It was inevitable.
However, it is still a shame they must impose their will in this fashion.
In my opinion... they should just learn from the exprience and apply it to future licensing and leave what is as is.
If they allow this, maybe, they will sell more of those $900+ dollar processors.