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{{short description|Controversial paid service by Intel}}
⚫
The '''Intel Upgrade Service''' was a relatively short-lived and controversial program of [[Intel]] that allowed some low-end processors to have additional features unlocked by simply paying a fee and obtaining an [[activation code]] that was then entered in a software program, which ran on [[Windows 7]].
[[File:Intel_upgrade_card.jpg|thumb|right|An example of an Intel Upgrade Card]]
⚫
The '''Intel Upgrade Service''' was a relatively short-lived and controversial program of [[Intel]] that allowed some low-end processors to have additional features unlocked by paying a fee and obtaining an [[activation code]] that was then entered in a software program, which ran on [[Windows 7]].


The program was introduced in September 2010 for the [[Clarkdale (microprocessor)|Clarkdale]]-based [[List of Intel Pentium microprocessors#"Clarkdale" (MCP, 32 nm)|Pentium G6951]] desktop processor (operating at 2.8&nbsp;GHz), and immediately met with criticism from the specialist press.<ref name="pcw2010">{{cite web|last=Paul |first=Ian |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/205772/Intel_Annoying_Pilot_Program_Offers_Chip_Upgrade_for_a_Fee.html |title=Intel's Annoying Pilot Program Offers Chip Upgrade for a Fee |publisher=PCWorld |date= |accessdate=2013-12-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Cooper |first=Daniel |url=http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/15/the-intel-upgrade-service-once-again-charging-you-50-to-do-stu/ |title=The Intel Upgrade Service: Once again charging you $50 to do stuff your CPU already does |publisher=Engadget.com |date= |accessdate=2013-12-25}}</ref><ref name="ars2010">{{cite web|last=Bright |first=Peter |url=http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2010/09/intels-upgradable-processor-good-sense-or-utter-catastrophe/ |title=Intel’s upgradable processor: good sense or utter catastrophe? |publisher=Ars Technica |date=2010-09-22 |accessdate=2013-12-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Kingsley |first=Adrian |url=http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/facepalm-of-the-day-intel-charges-customers-50-to-unlock-cpu-features/9742 |title=Facepalm of the Day: Intel charges customers $50 to unlock CPU features |publisher=ZDNet |date=2010-09-19 |accessdate=2013-12-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Cory Doctorow at 12:09 am Sun, Sep 19, 2010 |url=http://boingboing.net/2010/09/19/intel-drm-a-crippled.html |title=Intel + DRM: a crippled processor that you have to pay extra to unlock |publisher=Boing Boing |date=2010-09-19 |accessdate=2013-12-25}}</ref> For a $50 fee, this processor could have one additional megabyte of cache enabled, as well hyper-threading, making it almost like the Core i3-530, except for the slightly lower frequency that remained unchanged—the i3-530 operated at 2.93&nbsp;GHz.<ref name="ars2010"/> The official designation for the software-upgraded processor was Pentium G6952.<ref name="ars2010"/> In order for the activation software to work, the motherboard had to have the DH55TC or DH55PJ chipset.<ref name="pcw2010"/> One reviewer noted that at the market price of the time one could actually buy the i3-530 for only $15 more than the baseline Pentium G6951, making the upgrade premium card a very questionable proposition at the official price.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/Intel-returns-upgrade-cards-more-their-crippled-parts |title=Intel returns to upgrade cards for more of their crippled parts &#124; PC Perspective |publisher=Pcper.com |date= |accessdate=2013-12-25}}</ref>
The program was introduced in September 2010 for the [[Clarkdale (microprocessor)|Clarkdale]]-based [[List of Intel Pentium microprocessors#"Clarkdale" (MCP, 32 nm)|Pentium G6951]] desktop processor (operating at 2.8&nbsp;GHz), and immediately met with criticism from the specialist press.<ref name="pcw2010">{{cite web|last=Paul |first=Ian |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/205772/Intel_Annoying_Pilot_Program_Offers_Chip_Upgrade_for_a_Fee.html |title=Intel's Annoying Pilot Program Offers Chip Upgrade for a Fee |publisher=PCWorld |access-date=2013-12-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Cooper |first=Daniel |url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/08/15/the-intel-upgrade-service-once-again-charging-you-50-to-do-stu/ |title=The Intel Upgrade Service: Once again charging you $50 to do stuff your CPU already does |publisher=Engadget.com |access-date=2013-12-25}}</ref><ref name="ars2010">{{cite web|last=Bright |first=Peter |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2010/09/intels-upgradable-processor-good-sense-or-utter-catastrophe/ |title=Intel's upgradable processor: good sense or utter catastrophe? |publisher=Ars Technica |date=2010-09-22 |access-date=2013-12-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Kingsley |first=Adrian |url=http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/facepalm-of-the-day-intel-charges-customers-50-to-unlock-cpu-features/9742 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100922191822/http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/facepalm-of-the-day-intel-charges-customers-50-to-unlock-cpu-features/9742 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 22, 2010 |title=Facepalm of the Day: Intel charges customers $50 to unlock CPU features |publisher=ZDNet |date=2010-09-19 |access-date=2013-12-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Cory Doctorow at 12:09 am Sun, Sep 19, 2010 |url=http://boingboing.net/2010/09/19/intel-drm-a-crippled.html |title=Intel + DRM: a crippled processor that you have to pay extra to unlock |publisher=Boing Boing |date=2010-09-19 |access-date=2013-12-25}}</ref> For a $50 fee, this processor could have one additional megabyte of cache enabled, as well as hyper-threading, making it almost like the Core i3-530, except for the slightly lower frequency that remained unchanged—the i3-530 operated at 2.93&nbsp;GHz.<ref name="ars2010"/> The official designation for the software-upgraded processor was Pentium G6952.<ref name="ars2010"/> In order for the activation software to work, the motherboard had to have the DH55TC or DH55PJ chipset.<ref name="pcw2010"/> One reviewer noted that at the market price of the time one could actually buy the i3-530 for only $15 more than the baseline Pentium G6951, making the upgrade premium card a very questionable proposition at the official price.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcper.com/news/General-Tech/Intel-returns-upgrade-cards-more-their-crippled-parts |title=Intel returns to upgrade cards for more of their crippled parts &#124; PC Perspective |publisher=Pcper.com |access-date=2013-12-25}}</ref>


The program was extended in 2011 to the [[Sandy Bridge]] series of processors as follows:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anandtech.com/show/4621/intel-to-offer-cpu-upgrades-via-software-for-selected-models |title=Intel to Offer CPU Upgrades via Software for Selected Models |publisher=AnandTech |date= |accessdate=2013-12-25}}</ref>
The program was extended in 2011 to the [[Sandy Bridge]] series of processors as follows:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anandtech.com/show/4621/intel-to-offer-cpu-upgrades-via-software-for-selected-models |title=Intel to Offer CPU Upgrades via Software for Selected Models |publisher=AnandTech |access-date=2013-12-25}}</ref>
* the [[List of Intel Core i3 microprocessors#"Sandy Bridge" (32 nm) 2|Core i3-2312M]] (2.1&nbsp;GHz, 3 MB cache) laptop processor could be upgraded to the Core i3-2393M with higher frequency and more cache (2.5&nbsp;GHz, 4 MB cache)
* the [[List of Intel Core i3 microprocessors#"Sandy Bridge" (32 nm) 2|Core i3-2312M]] (2.1&nbsp;GHz, 3 MB cache) laptop processor could be upgraded to the Core i3-2393M with higher frequency and more cache (2.5&nbsp;GHz, 4 MB cache)
* the [[List of Intel Core i3 microprocessors#"Sandy Bridge" (32 nm)|Core i3-2102]] (3.1&nbsp;GHz, 3 MB cache) desktop processor could be upgraded to the Core i3-2153 with a higher frequency (3.6&nbsp;GHz)
* the [[List of Intel Core i3 microprocessors#"Sandy Bridge" (32 nm)|Core i3-2102]] (3.1&nbsp;GHz, 3 MB cache) desktop processor could be upgraded to the Core i3-2153 with a higher frequency (3.6&nbsp;GHz)
* the [[List of Intel Pentium microprocessors#"Sandy Bridge" (32 nm)|Pentium G622]] desktop processor (2.6&nbsp;GHz, 3 MB cache) could be upgraded to the Pentium G693 with a higher frequency (3.2&nbsp;GHz)
* the [[List of Intel Pentium microprocessors#"Sandy Bridge" (32 nm)|Pentium G622]] desktop processor (2.6&nbsp;GHz, 3 MB cache) could be upgraded to the Pentium G693 with a higher frequency (3.2&nbsp;GHz)


The Sandy Bridge upgrade program was available in U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, the Netherlands, Germany, the Philippines, and Indonesia.<ref name="pcw2011">{{cite web|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/238243/article.html |title=Intel: Processor Upgrade Program Saves Tearing Apart PC |publisher=PCWorld |date= |accessdate=2013-12-25}}</ref>
The Sandy Bridge upgrade program was available in U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, the Netherlands, Germany, the Philippines, and Indonesia.<ref name="pcw2011">{{cite web|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/238243/article.html |title=Intel: Processor Upgrade Program Saves Tearing Apart PC |publisher=PCWorld |access-date=2013-12-25}}</ref>


Intel initially defended the program,<ref name="pcw2011"/> but it was eventually discontinued in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://upgrades.intel.com/Public/Page.aspx?name=PublicLandingPage |title=Intel Services - Program Information |publisher=Upgrades.intel.com |date=2012-02-22 |accessdate=2013-12-25}}</ref>
Intel initially defended the program,<ref name="pcw2011"/> but it was eventually discontinued in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://upgrades.intel.com/Public/Page.aspx?name=PublicLandingPage |title=Intel Services - Program Information |publisher=Upgrades.intel.com |date=2012-02-22 |access-date=2013-12-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225194256/https://upgrades.intel.com/Public/Page.aspx?name=PublicLandingPage |archive-date=2013-12-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==
Line 20: Line 22:
== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
{{Intel}}

[[Category:Intel products]]
[[Category:Intel products]]

Latest revision as of 16:03, 5 July 2024

An example of an Intel Upgrade Card

The Intel Upgrade Service was a relatively short-lived and controversial program of Intel that allowed some low-end processors to have additional features unlocked by paying a fee and obtaining an activation code that was then entered in a software program, which ran on Windows 7.

The program was introduced in September 2010 for the Clarkdale-based Pentium G6951 desktop processor (operating at 2.8 GHz), and immediately met with criticism from the specialist press.[1][2][3][4][5] For a $50 fee, this processor could have one additional megabyte of cache enabled, as well as hyper-threading, making it almost like the Core i3-530, except for the slightly lower frequency that remained unchanged—the i3-530 operated at 2.93 GHz.[3] The official designation for the software-upgraded processor was Pentium G6952.[3] In order for the activation software to work, the motherboard had to have the DH55TC or DH55PJ chipset.[1] One reviewer noted that at the market price of the time one could actually buy the i3-530 for only $15 more than the baseline Pentium G6951, making the upgrade premium card a very questionable proposition at the official price.[6]

The program was extended in 2011 to the Sandy Bridge series of processors as follows:[7]

  • the Core i3-2312M (2.1 GHz, 3 MB cache) laptop processor could be upgraded to the Core i3-2393M with higher frequency and more cache (2.5 GHz, 4 MB cache)
  • the Core i3-2102 (3.1 GHz, 3 MB cache) desktop processor could be upgraded to the Core i3-2153 with a higher frequency (3.6 GHz)
  • the Pentium G622 desktop processor (2.6 GHz, 3 MB cache) could be upgraded to the Pentium G693 with a higher frequency (3.2 GHz)

The Sandy Bridge upgrade program was available in U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, the Netherlands, Germany, the Philippines, and Indonesia.[8]

Intel initially defended the program,[8] but it was eventually discontinued in 2011.[9]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Paul, Ian. "Intel's Annoying Pilot Program Offers Chip Upgrade for a Fee". PCWorld. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
  2. ^ Cooper, Daniel. "The Intel Upgrade Service: Once again charging you $50 to do stuff your CPU already does". Engadget.com. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
  3. ^ a b c Bright, Peter (2010-09-22). "Intel's upgradable processor: good sense or utter catastrophe?". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
  4. ^ Kingsley, Adrian (2010-09-19). "Facepalm of the Day: Intel charges customers $50 to unlock CPU features". ZDNet. Archived from the original on September 22, 2010. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
  5. ^ Cory Doctorow at 12:09 am Sun, Sep 19, 2010 (2010-09-19). "Intel + DRM: a crippled processor that you have to pay extra to unlock". Boing Boing. Retrieved 2013-12-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Intel returns to upgrade cards for more of their crippled parts | PC Perspective". Pcper.com. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
  7. ^ "Intel to Offer CPU Upgrades via Software for Selected Models". AnandTech. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
  8. ^ a b "Intel: Processor Upgrade Program Saves Tearing Apart PC". PCWorld. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
  9. ^ "Intel Services - Program Information". Upgrades.intel.com. 2012-02-22. Archived from the original on 2013-12-25. Retrieved 2013-12-25.
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