Intel Wants $50 for Software Unlock of CPU Features

[Solaris17]

You realize AMD already does the same thing right? The only difference is they don't offer the option to enable what is disabled(at least not officially, and they've actually tried to stop the ability to enable the disabled features, but motherboard manufacturers are smart little bastards).

right. but that isnt guaranteed some of those cores are actually bad. Their are errors in manufacturing. Thats why AMD does it. its not like they pick and choose the cores single handidly. If one core on a wafer didnt make the cut the whole batch gets knocked down on the list. You might wind up lucky with a good one but they sure dont market them as unlockable cores.

 

[W1zzard]

several years ago has intel started speaking about "buy as you go" schemes for their processors .. for example: there will be one processor model only which is a 12 core. you can buy it for cheap but it will only run as dual core without ht, with reduced cache etc etc.. now you can buy upgrades to unlock the remaining functionality OR you can unlock this functionality for several months/weeks/days/hours based on your usage model

this seems to be the first implementation and testing of this possible strategy

 

[Phxprovost]

several years ago has intel started speaking about "buy as you go" schemes for their processors .. for example: there will be one processor model only which is a 12 core. you can buy it for cheap but it will only run as dual core without ht, with reduced cache etc etc.. now you can buy upgrades to unlock the remaining functionality OR you can unlock this functionality for several months/weeks/days/hours based on your usage model

this seems to be the first implementation and testing of this possible strategy

and if this becomes mainstream i will find a new hobby as hardware will have no resale value and all the fun will be taken out of building and oc'ing computers

 

[Solaris17]

and if this becomes mainstream i will find a new hobby as hardware will have no resale value and all the fun will be taken out of building and oc'ing computers

yup. That is ridiculous.

 

[newtekie1]

^^ AMD tries to fill a certain market segment with it's x3 cores. It is losing money in a way by disabling a certain number of functional cores but a lot are still defective as proven by many enthusiasts.
Also it doesnt charge you extra for a core. it's good publicity (that's a change for AMD) kind of like sweepstakes. "Get a x3 core and you just may get an extra core free" that's.

Besides dont compare Intel prices to AMD ones.
You are right however, if this was an ultra competitive market nobody could afford schemes like the one pulled by Intel.

Intel is doing the same thing, the only difference is they are doing far more minor amounts of disabling. What is worse? Disabling a small section of Cache and HT, or disabling an entire Core(or two)?

The only difference is that Intel is letting users pay to unlock the disabled features, and AMD is offering no way to unlock the disabled features on their processors(again, it was the clever motherboard manufacturers that figured out how to unlock the disabled features, AMD had nothing to do with, and even attempted to block the feature in their latest series of chipsets).

And furthermore, this unlocking is for pre-built systems, which defintiely can't unlock AMD's disable features, so you're arguments really don't apply.

 

[Black Hades]

[...]do you think many would buy an AMD x6 that doesn't hold a candle to it? If the 875K was being sold at $195 do you think anyone would be buying X4 965s?

Real prices keep the economy healthy. if Intel would sell it'z 965 at say 195$, AMD would be in hot water indeed and would have to pull some serious research or ind. espionage or some other deus ex machina scheme. But that's how competition should work really.

 

[DanishDevil]

several years ago has intel started speaking about "buy as you go" schemes for their processors .. for example: there will be one processor model only which is a 12 core. you can buy it for cheap but it will only run as dual core without ht, with reduced cache etc etc.. now you can buy upgrades to unlock the remaining functionality OR you can unlock this functionality for several months/weeks/days/hours based on your usage model

this seems to be the first implementation and testing of this possible strategy

Holy crap that's a scary thing. I guess it would be cheaper for Intel to only manufacture one type of die, and have everything software-controlled. How are they going to keep people from cracking them, though?

 

[btarunr]

AMD is offering no way to unlock the disabled features on their processors(again, it was the clever motherboard manufacturers that figured out how to unlock the disabled features, AMD had nothing to do with, and even attempted to block the feature in their latest series of chipsets).

And furthermore, this unlocking is for pre-built systems, which defintiely can't unlock AMD's disable features, so you're arguments really don't apply.

Nah, if AMD didn't want there to be a way to unlock cores, there wouldn't have been one. It could simply pull up motherboard vendors for hurting its business by allowing users to unlock cores, and there's no intention from AMD to do so.

 

[Black Hades]

How are they going to keep people from cracking them, though?

Once you open a door things WILL circulate both ways.

 

[newtekie1]

Real prices keep the economy healthy. if Intel would sell it'z 965 at say 195$, AMD would be in hot water indeed and would have to pull some serious research or ind. espionage or some other deus ex machina scheme. But that's how competition should work really.

No, competition keeps the economy healthy, and Intel is competitive, they are just in the position where they can disable features from their processors and make competing processors.

 

[Phxprovost]

No, competition keeps the economy healthy, and Intel is competitive, they are just in the position where they can disable features from their processors and make competing processors.

haha intel is competitive? i do recall a recent lawsuit by the EU....

 

[W1zzard]

I guess it would be cheaper for Intel to only manufacture one type of die, and have everything software-controlled

they are already doing that .. for example i7 930, 950, 960, 975 are all the same piece of silicon, made on the same fabrication line with the exact same specs, same everything.

once the dies are finished they go into testing for defects (broken cache? bad cores? leakage current? maximum clock speed? <more>) and get binned to potential products.

now when intel needs to make a bunch of new i930s for example they take from the "low end" bin and produce those chips .. if they have a big big order and the low end bin is empty they'll take from the next higher bin. always better to get rid of inventory and make some money

same is happening with every processor, every gpu, basically every piece of silicon

 

[newtekie1]

haha intel is competitive? i do recall a recent lawsuit by the EU....

Yeah, and the EU also says Microsoft including IE and Media Player for free is anti-competitive...so pretty much anything by the EU is full of shit...

But that is hardly what I meant and you know it, Intel is competitive in price with AMD.

they are already doing that .. for example i7 930, 950, 960, 975 are all the same piece of silicon, made on the same fabrication line with the exact same specs, same everything.

once the dies are finished they go into testing for defects (broken cache? bad cores? leakage current? maximum clock speed? <more>) and get binned to potential products.

now when intel needs to make a bunch of new i930s for example they take from the "low end" bin and produce those chips .. if they have a big big order and the low end bin is empty they'll take from the next higher bin. always better to get rid of inventory and make some money

same is happening with every processor, every gpu, basically every piece of silicon

Exactly. People aren't getting ripped of by this process, if they wanted the better processor they should pay for it. The only difference is that Intel is now offering the ability to actually use the features that are already there if you want without the hassle of actually swapping out processors.

 

[Black Hades]

As a reminder, I'm not necessarily frowning on Intel's approach. In fact I really hope they pursue this.

May they reap the profits and bear the brunt of piracy since they opened that door
I know I wont be paying extra. Intel will get money and some profit and we'll unlock ourselves the little extra on the side.
Everybody wins except maybe a CEO or five that don't get to buy their 14th yacht

 

[Dave63]

A page out of Microsoft's play book.LOL

 

[newtekie1]

As a reminder, I'm not necessarily frowning on Intel's approach. In fact I really hope they pursue this.

May they reap the profits and bear the brunt of piracy since they opened that door
I know I wont be paying extra. Intel will get money and some profit and we'll unlock ourselves the little extra on the side. Everybody wins except maybe a CEO or five that don't get to buy their 14th yacht

Well, like I said, this seems to be a pre-built only thing right now.

I wouldn't be surprised if we see enthusiast motherboard that have the ability to unlock these features for free, just like there are enthusiast boards to unlock AMD processors.

 

[towncaptain]

What if you crack this thing illegally, Intel might turn your i3 to a Pentium 4 muahahahaha

 

[Black Hades]

I wouldn't be surprised if we see enthusiast motherboard that have the ability to unlock these features for free, just like there are enthusiast boards to unlock AMD processors.

Since Intel plans to do this via software it doesn't require certain hardware conjunctions so it will be much simpler than that. it will be simple once somebody hacks it. Unless this will rely on a TPM module of course.

Reminds me Intel got owned with it's HDCP Bluray protection scheme a few days ago. This should be interesting

What if you crack this thing illegally, Intel might turn your i3 to a Pentium 4 muahahahaha

Over my dead sealed ports they will

 

[newtekie1]

Since Intel plans to do this via software it doesn't require certain hardware conjunctions so it will be much simpler than that. it will be simple once somebody hacks it. Unless this will rely on a TPM module of course.

Reminds me Intel got owned with it's HDCP Bluray protection scheme a few days ago. This should be interesting

Yes, but right now it only seems to work with a single pre-built model from gateway, so there has to be something special in the hardware. I'm guessing something special in the BIOS that the software flips to enable the features. I'm sure it will be rather easy for motherboard manufacturers to add this feature, but I don't think it is simply software that can be used on any computer. But we will have to see as more information becomes available.

 

[Black Hades]

You do realize that this software unlock scheme should work on all and any motherboard supporting the processor right? So if you cant use the neutered version the point is moot.

If Procesor X can be used by motherboard Y and unlockable by software Z. If you can pair cpu with motherboard then this wont be an issue we'll see.

Off-topic:
This thread is getting thick, those new to it will be in danger of headaches so I'm done till new info arises.

 

[newtekie1]

You do realize that this software unlock scheme should work on all and any motherboard supporting the processor right? So if you cant use the neutered version the point is moot.

If Procesor X can be used by motherboard Y and unlockable by software Z. If you can pair cpu with motherboard then this wont be an issue we'll see.

Off-topic:
This thread is getting thick, those new to it will be in danger of headaches so I'm done till new info arises.

Yes, but it is also a "one time process portable between software re-installations", so there has to be some kind of hardware process involved with the unlocking.

 

[Steevo]

Yes, but right now it only seems to work with a single pre-built model from gateway, so there has to be something special in the hardware. I'm guessing something special in the BIOS that the software flips to enable the features. I'm sure it will be rather easy for motherboard manufacturers to add this feature, but I don't think it is simply software that can be used on any computer. But we will have to see as more information becomes available.

But a exploit is all it takes, and everythign can be visualized. Either by brute force or by careful calculation.

Yes, but it is also a "one time process portable between software re-installations", so there has to be some kind of hardware process involved with the unlocking.

Much like BIOS flashing?

 

[pantherx12]

Intel is doing the same thing, the only difference is they are doing far more minor amounts of disabling. What is worse? Disabling a small section of Cache and HT, or disabling an entire Core(or two)?

The only difference is that Intel is letting users pay to unlock the disabled features, and AMD is offering no way to unlock the disabled features on their processors(again, it was the clever motherboard manufacturers that figured out how to unlock the disabled features, AMD had nothing to do with, and even attempted to block the feature in their latest series of chipsets).

And furthermore, this unlocking is for pre-built systems, which defintiely can't unlock AMD's disable features, so you're arguments really don't apply.

Man I don't get you at all, you always seem to favour defending a company.


What's not to get.

AMD. Disable a broken part of a piece of silicon/ charge you less due to that / has a chance to unlock for FREE


Intel new scheme.

Processor has no flaws what so ever, didly squat!
Processors sell for cheap initially ( yet being able to sell them this way shows that they are in-fact making profit before adding extra, I.E the chip is already paid for, your getting what you pay for.
Intel charges for something that should already exist in the first place.


MASSIVE difference to what goes on else where.


How you could even remotely misconstrue this as a good idea or similar to what goes on already and confuses me a great deal, got stocks in Intel or something?

Only INTEL benefit from this, they are ALREADY making money from the initial sale, they are making MORE money for FREE ( I.E the upgrade costs them NOTHING)

If you support this then you support intel charging you for nothing at all.


And silicon always has defects, 0% failure my ass, you can even see the difference in performance chip to chip ( over-clocking potential, heat out-put, voltage requirements)


Now this is not an attack at you one bit, but you seem to completely miss the point here.



The extra $50 is for NOTHING

 

[Steevo]

Nothing but IP.

Hot topic these days, I sell GPS board upgrades for $2,000.00 and you get.... a passcode.


IP protection is important, however the method and scale of this is going to make for piracy for sure.

 

[wolf]

I have mixed feelings about this process....

I wonder how long till it is hacked... if ever that is.