Intel to offer 'unlock codes' to increase processor performance

[aggressor]

I'm surprised there isn't a thread here about this, so...here it is!
The story: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/18/intel-wants-to-charge-50-to-unlock-stuff-your-cpu-can-already-d/

I don't think this is a huge deal as it's already somewhat done with chip binning. This will just allow the average user to unlock performance without any work, where-as overclocking can be trial an error for findng the 'sweet spot'.

That combined with locking out overclocking on their next chips is an interesting turn for Intel. Now they can have processor tiers without having to worry about lower processors cannibalizing sales of higher end chips because of overclocking, though that only really affects the small percent that actually overclock. Even still, the K series will take care of those who wish to.

My only question is....how long until AMD goes this route?

 

[Idontcare]

Interesting business model direction.

I see it working, will make a lot of sense in the business markets as well as a swath of the consumer markets.

I foresee significant emotion-based backlash amongst the enthusiast/fanboy crowds though. Anything that implies the manufacturer has control over the product they sell just rankles the ire of those who feel self-entitled.

Will be interesting so see if it takes root (Intel's business strategy). Others have tried this before, SUN did at one point I recall.

So what will it take? maybe 1 month for some dude to bios-crack it and then everybody gets a free upgrade that cares to "unlock" their cpu?

 

[Cogman]

Hmm, I thought it was a multiplier unlock at first, but it doesn't look like it.

I wonder how intel is going to prevent the proliferation of unlock codes.

 

[LR6]

Tektronix used to do this with oscilloscopes. They would ship with the full amount of ram and a chunk of it was disabled unless you paid extra. Things got interesting when the initial firmware on one of the models had a "bug" and the entire amount of ram was enabled. If you wanted to upgrade the firmware to fix other bugs or add new features you lost the extra ram.

 

[Voo]

I'm MUCH more interested in the technical details.. any info on the implementation?

 

[AkumaX]

If it's software, it'll most definitely be pirated. This is different, in that fact that we're using to Intel/AMD binning chips (disabling cache/cores) because its defective, but the fact is, they know its working 100% and are just wanting to make extra $$$

 

[aggressor]

Well, yes, they are a for-profit business. Most i7 parts are binned for demand, not because most of them can't meet a higher end specification. It's just how it is and has been for awhile. This just offers a way for non-overclockers to increase performance without making them swap out the entire processor.

 

[extra]

Sweet, we'll finally be able to pirate hardware upgrades and get them for free.

 

[IntelUser2000]

There's probably a reason that they do this in a limited SKU. They already predicted what's gonna happen, haha.

 

[Idontcare]

Gotta given them an "A" for creativity...they need to do something to get those margins up even higher.

Selling software upgradable hardware will get them into that >60% GM territory.

I wonder of the McAfee stuff has anything to do with securing against hacking the chips.

 

[IntelUser2000]

I'm not sure how they'll be able to expand beyond how they are doing now, like with limited SKUs. No secure system has ever been not cracked.

They already have pretty good margins.

 

[Cogman]

Gotta given them an "A" for creativity...they need to do something to get those margins up even higher.

Selling software upgradable hardware will get them into that >60% GM territory.

I wonder of the McAfee stuff has anything to do with securing against hacking the chips.

Doubt it. McAfee, AFAIK, doesn't have any software involved in securing digital information. It would have made more sense if they bought a company like secure-rom.

But who knows, I don't know what all goes into McAfee.

Perhaps they will target this more at businesses. After all, a business is less likely to do something against the TOS.

 

[CTho9305]

So what will it take? maybe 1 month for some dude to bios-crack it and then everybody gets a free upgrade that cares to "unlock" their cpu?

I think it's relatively straightforward to do this properly. Each part is already uniquely fused, so they'd just need a per-part unlock code based on the unique fused values (do they still have a unique serial #?). As far as I know, nobody has figured out how to dump all the fuses from modern x86 processors (so a secret stored in them is safe), and as far as I know, nobody has managed to unlock a modern locked x86 processor.

Intel already has ways of giving the processor information they can be sure came from them - the microcode patches are encrypted (or cryptographically signed or something). It would be possible for the processor to know that an "unlock yourself" message came from Intel.

Thinking about this more:
1) Intel keeps a database of serial # => user-invisible secret value that the processor knows
2) You send Intel the serial # and some $$$
3) They return the unlock code, which blows an "unlock" fuse in the processor, or writes flash in the processor, or gets stored on the motherboard (in which case you'd need to stick with that motherboard) or something like that.

I don't see why this has to be easily-breakable. A keygen would need to know the user-invisible secret, which the processor never has to make externally available (at least without JTAG).

 

[james1701]

How long will it take to run a key gen to unlock it?

 

[Tsavo]

How long will it take to run a key gen to unlock it?

As long as that keygen takes to fill the hard drive with malware.

 

[eternalone]

when we buy a CPU, WE ARE BUYING THE CPU. This is pure Bait and Switch and as far as I am aware has been against the law for quite some time. Just because they claim that you should already know about it is BS. Do not try to defend this, if you bought a car and then they sent you a letter saying, "Hey by now you may have realized that you can't go above 55MPH, if you want to unlock the "TRUE" power of your car please send us $999.99 and we'll be glad to give you the Limited Edition code that will let you blow past those other suckers."

This is wrong, just plain wrong.

This was one of the comments on that techblog.

I agree in this regards also.

 

[taltamir]

It is not a bad idea for them... it will piss off a lot of people...
and in the end they will probably cancel it... not because of a few angry enthusiasts... but because people will crack the code and get a code generator from pirate bay.

Speaking of, anyone wants to make bets how long it takes for it to be cracked?

 

[RavenSEAL]

I give it 3 months after it goes mainstream lol

 

[386DX]

I think people are making too big a deal over this. It's actually a pretty smart move clearly targeted at the off the shelf crowd. For those saying its bait and switch, etc. you're clearly wrong. Bait and switch is buying something and then not getting what you bought. When you buy your system that has the pentium chip in it you get exactly what the specs says (speed, cache, etc), there's no deception no switch. At the same time you ARE PAYING LESS then for the system with a Core 2 or higher performance processor. At some later point you feel like your system needs a speed boost, so you pay the $50 to get the unlock code that makes your processor faster without having to open up your PC and swap CPU out. Its perfect for the non technical crowd and gives you a fairly cheap way to extend the life of your system.

This is not different then how every Microsoft Windows 7 CD contains every version. Only the key (and hence how much you paid for it) you used when installing determines what version gets installed and at any later date you can upgrade your version of windows with a new code.

 

[Terzo]

Would integrating mcafee into their chips help "secure" this at all?

 

[DrMrLordX]

No, probably not.

 

[sandorski]

Wouldn't be the first boneheaded move by Intel.

 

[beginner99]

Would integrating mcafee into their chips help "secure" this at all?

Besides that it tells you that intels process must be very good and they actually have more full functional chips than they can sell. So from a buisness point it's not that bad an idea.
All "upgradable" chips probably go to oems. they sell cheap, intel makes extra 50$ on there own. pretty smart.

 

[clemsyn]

I think its a smart move by Intel, that is if you are shareholder

 

[taltamir]

Would integrating mcafee into their chips help "secure" this at all?

heh, good point.
McAfee makes one of the worst anti virus programs on the market. Also, supposedly they will be locking out other anti virus software, so people will be forced to downgrade to mccafee from something thats actually good.