Could Intel unlock a non "k" processor?

[Hulk]

If they wanted to could they unlock a non "k" processor? It the process of locking reversible?

 

[jpiniero]

IIRC, usually features like extra cache, unlocked, HT are fused off. So no, not reversible.

 

[Hulk]

IIRC, usually features like extra cache, unlocked, HT are fused off. So no, not reversible.

So there is absolutely no way they could do it. There is no technology that would do it?

 

[MrTeal]

Well, there is a precedent for it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Upgrade_Service
They obviously don't offer the service anymore, but software upgrades of cache and HT were available a few years ago.

 

[Hulk]

Well, there is a precedent for it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Upgrade_Service
They obviously don't offer the service anymore, but software upgrades of cache and HT were available a few years ago.

Very interesting. I'm wondering why this technology didn't "get out" with everybody being able to unlock their chips.

 

[Dufus]

Very interesting. I'm wondering why this technology didn't "get out" with everybody being able to unlock their chips.

Maybe because Intel is very good at keeping secrets and nobody is clever enough and willing enough to try and work it out. Much easier to buy a 'k' chip and perhaps this was Intel's intent to stop most people trying to OC their non-k chips.

 

[Phynaz]

Very interesting. I'm wondering why this technology didn't "get out" with everybody being able to unlock their chips.

Cryptogrphically signed microcode. Be glad it wasn't able to "get out". The last thing we would need would be a high jacked website the could reprogram our cpu.

 

[hojnikb]

They could, by changing microcode.

 

[ShintaiDK]

You can only change CPUs that is designed for it. Like those upgradeable. The rest got it fused of and have no ability for it. Microcode or not.

 

[NTMBK]

I would like to see that come back, actually, but more fine grained- make things like extra two cores, video decoder and IGP separate codes, too. Buy a baseline dual core without hyperthreading, no IGP and no video block, then unlock features a la carte. Get an unlocked i5 for a lower price because you never bought the IGP

 

[Dufus]

This subject has been bought up before on this forum, Unlock Intel CPU's

FWIW though...
i7-4700MQ mobile Haswell quad core CPU http://ark.intel.com/products/75117/Intel-Core-i7-4700MQ-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_40-GHz

Turbo up to 34x bin, however has 2 extra bins that can be unlocked to give up to 36x bin.

Messing with microcode can unlock the processor. The 49x bin shown here is a limitation of stability and not the maximum bin.

Validation link.

 

[poofyhairguy]

If they wanted to could they unlock a non "k" processor? It the process of locking reversible?

In design or at a per-chip level?

In design it seems any CPU Intel has could be easily converted to a K model. Any speculation that it wouldn't work with low end chips was blown away by the G3258. Intel locks chips due to greed and not because of technical reasons.

Per-chip, probably not.

 

[Hulk]

Thanks for the info guys.

 

[Dufus]

The Intel Upgrade Service would indicate per chip level.