Intel wants to charge $50 to unlock stuff your CPU can already do


Recommended Posts

Intel wants to charge $50 to unlock stuff your CPU can already do

9-18-10-intel600.jpg

Hold onto your hyperthreaded horses, because this is liable to whip up an angry mob -- Intel's asking customers to pay extra if they want the full power of their store-bought silicon. An eagle-eyed Engadget reader was surfing the Best Buy shelves when he noticed this $50 card -- and sure enough, Intel websites confirm -- that lets you download software to unlock extra threads and cache on the new Pentium G6951 processor. Hardware.info got their hands on an early sample of the chip and discovered it's actually a full 1MB of L3 cache that's enabled plus HyperThreading support, which translates to a modest but noticeable upgrade. This isn't exactly an unprecedented move, as chip companies routinely sell firmware-locked chips all the time in a process known as binning, but there they have a simpler excuse -- binned chips are typically sold with cores or cache locked because that part of their silicon turned out defective after printing. This new idea is more akin to video games that let you "download" extra weapons and features, when those features were on the disc all along. Still, it's an intriguing business model, and before you unleash your rage in comments, you should know that Intel's just testing it out on this low-end processor in a few select markets for now.

Source: Engadget

I think this is... actually not that stupid.

If my logic is right anyway.

... Haven't loads of cheaper CPU's in the past merely been the same as the more powerful ones but with bits 'locked off'? If so this new thing might save people the hassle of buying a completely new CPU.

Feel free to roll eyes at my post but I'm sure I've heard something like that in the past. :blink:

This might be a good move. If they can make CPUs cheaper and then charge to unlock more potential than that basically means to round up the hackers and crack the security used and unlock it without paying more. Then we would be paying for a whole lot less for a good CPU and then easily just unlock the power it really holds without paying extra. ;)

It's like a jailbreaking your iPhone or rooting your Android phone. :D

I think this is... actually not that stupid.

If my logic is right anyway.

... Haven't loads of cheaper CPU's in the past merely been the same as the more powerful ones but with bits 'locked off'? If so this new thing might save people the hassle of buying a completely new CPU.

Feel free to roll eyes at my post but I'm sure I've heard something like that in the past. :blink:

I have heard the same - and this just seems to make sense. You buy a chip that is limited(for reasons I don't know), and they offer a cheap(ish) option to make it better. If it is cheaper than buying an equivelant chip, then I see no problem. Otherwise it is wrong.

I think this is the first time I post something here!

I can imagine in the future, something like... "Want to push for those extra FPS on your gaming rig?" "Purchase the ability to increase the speed of your CPU from xGhz to yGhz!! Only 59.99$!!!"

^Yup, I believe staff in places like Best Buy will be pushed to recommend these kinds of things in the future, along with product protection, internet security and microsoft office. :p

Great, another KPI to go with the 30+ they already have. >_>

Seeing as it costs Intel exactly the same to manufacture that CPU wether you unlock those extra features or not, what justification have they got to charge more to enable things on it?

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • Doom: The Dark Ages Revelations expansion gives the Slayer a brutal Chain Spear by Pulasthi Ariyasinghe Last year, id Software released Doom: The Dark Ages as a prequel to its reboot series, offering a look at the legendary Slayer character during an ancient war between Hell and Heaven. Today, at the Xbox Games Showcase, id Software returned with a new announcement that unveiled Doom: The Dark Ages Revelations as its first story expansion. The expansion will see the Slayer being betrayed and cast into a "merciless purgatory only escapable by confronting haunting truths." Somehow, there is one ally in all this chaos seemingly attempting to help our protagonist escape his fate. Players will be ascending this prison and fighting plenty of new demons and abominations as they work to free the Slayer's followers. One new aspect of the expansion will be the Chain Spear. This new weapon is described by the studio as a "uniquely satisfying combat system that rewards mastery with a potent combination of power and mobility." Check out the trailer below to see the new weapon in action, where the Slayer is seen using it to even pin enemies to walls. id Software is also preparing a free update to all owners of Doom: The Dark Ages that will land alongside the new paid expansion. Dubbed the Ripatorium 3.0 update, this will add more customization options, an improved pass code generation system, and preset options for players diving into the game's arena challenge mode. Expansion buyers will also receive additional maps, demons, and new weapons to use in this mode in addition to the story levels. Doom: The Dark Ages Revelations expansion is out on July 7 across PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 with a $19.99 price tag. Those who own the Premium Edition or the Collector's Bundle will receive the expansion for no extra cost as well.
    • Hyped for this. Replayed the remasters recently and they're so well done, and Crash 4 was great too. I trust this team to deliver.
    • Ninja Theory's new Hellblade game is action-focused and set in Purgatory by Pulasthi Ariyasinghe Ninja Thery has been building its award-winning Hellblade series since 2017, delivering Senua's Sacrifice and Senua's Saga since then. Today at the 2026 Xbox Games Showcase, the studio had a brand-new installment announcement featuring Senua again, but this time, she is in a version of purgatory, and the focus is on the action. Simply named Senua, this new entry is described as a "full-on action-adventure" experience, delivering an expanded focus on combat, puzzle-solving, and freedom of exploration. The developer says that it is keeping the same high production values and storytelling features of the previous games while giving what players have been asking for in the gameplay department. The entirety of Ninja Theory is now working on Senua, giving the project much more manpower than ever before, while also letting the team draw on its action roots from Devil May Cry and prior titles. However, the studio also confirmed that its previously announced Project Mara horror experience is no longer in development. Alongside snappier traversal moves, Senua will be able to take stealth and direct combat routes. She has access to her own sword, plus any enemy weapons as well, with dual wielding also being an option for most dropped melee swords, axes, and other weapons. Outside of melee combat, Senua will be able to use special abilities that let her alter the reality around her. The world is said to be about twice the size of Hellblade 2. While this won't be an open-world experience, the linear story will let players explore their surroundings further than before. The story of Senua will be set after the events of previous Hellblade titles, with our protagonist being stuck in her own version of Purgatory. The series' well-explored psychosis themes will return as well. "She’s trapped between life and death on a quest to reach the afterlife and be reunited with the ones that she’s loved and lost," adds the studio. "Her belief is that by healing the wounds of her life, she can find the peace that is the key that unlocks the gate to the afterlife." Senua is releasing on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5 sometime in 2027.
    • Windows has had it, it's called camera frame server. I recall when it was first introduced in an early Windows 10 release it caused issues and there was a registry entry to disable it. Seems like they disabled it by default at some point. Windows 11 brought that toggle to the settings app (not just registry) a while ago.
  • Recent Achievements

    • Proficient
      Eric Biran went up a rank
      Proficient
    • Dedicated
      Conjor earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • Week One Done
      Windows Guy earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Dedicated
      Mark Spruce earned a badge
      Dedicated
    • Collaborator
      conkir earned a badge
      Collaborator
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      481
    2. 2
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      243
    3. 3
      Steven P.
      72
    4. 4
      +Edouard
      66
    5. 5
      neufuse
      66
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!