Topic: Crippleware returns to hardware

[Nemesis]

Long ago I read of an IBM practice where they would lease you a mainframe and when you wanted more computing power they would "upgrade" your system (and rental fees) by removing the circuit board that cut the computers power in half. 

Crippleware has since migrated too software where features are disabled but present until you pay more money to activate them.

Now cripple ware returns to hardware courtesy of Intel.

Link to full article

CHIPMAKER Intel is offering customers another way to upgrade their processors by purchasing gift cards to unlock features that are already in its chips.

These magical gift cards allow users to download an application from Intel's website that will unlock features already present in compatible processors. Apparently $50 is all that's needed for customers to gain access to Hyperthreading and some more Level 2 cache. Intel calls this dial an upgrade procedure "down-the-wire hardware upgrades".

 

[Sirgod]

Yeah, I don't like this either. reminds me of one of the "Black" AMD chips, that if you where lucky, and got the right one, you could unlock two whole cores.

Stephen

[Capt. Mike]

Apparently, you don't deal with Agilent as much as I do...they build all of thier features into the test equipment, but you "buy" the options...they don't have to set up different production lines, just selectively activate features

Mike

[Tus-XC]

I'm not actually against this.  Consider for a moment that they already have to disable portions of their processors to meet certain quotas.  Now if they didn't have to physcially disable it, and were able to provide means to enable it later it would seem to actually be win win for the both consumer and the MF.  Instead of having to go out and buy a new proc, costing hundreds, you spend 50 bucks to turn your current proc into the one you want to upgrade to.  For the intel it allows them some room for yields - for example not having to rely on defects or having to delibertly disable portions of a processor never to be used again to get their products.  Of course this is all dependent on price point.  If the base processor is indead 50 or more dollars cheaper than the upgrade then it would be worth it, else market forces will just prevent it from taking hold

[intermech]

Could this be likened to a cable provider trapping out channels? You already have all the hookups, and the programing is being broadcast, but you don't have access, and you don't pay for it.

I just don't like the idea of having the processor power there but not being able to use it. It seems shady to me.

[FCM_SFHQ_XC]

Main thing with this though I think is more than likely hackers easily will be able to crack open the parts and thus activate it for themselves, and if they end up posting those hacks online, in the end it'll mean less profit for Intel since more would probably get it from the cracked version than if they are forced to buy a new chip like today currently(ex. Oh Ill buy the $50 chip and get the hack to unlock its additional features to make it as capable as a $150 chip saving me $50+and additional $50 for getting a $150 chip), so in short, Intel probably looses money in doing so, or at least, considering their profits I guess loose is the wrong word, but more so, profits for this wont be at maximum, and I also wonder about adding an additional software component to enable more capability of the hardware, seems like a waste of computer resources in doing so, in all probably not worth it, so I hope it wont make it through as a standard.