Intel Officially Introduces Pay-as-You-Go Chip Licensing

Intel Officially Introduces Pay-as-You-Go Chip Licensing(tomshardware.com)

10 points by grawprog 3 years ago | 5 comments

"Intel's upcoming Intel's 4th Generation Xeon Scalable Sapphire Rapids processors are equipped with various special-purpose accelerators and security technologies that all customers do not need at all times. To offer such end-users additional flexibility regarding investments, Intel will deliver them to buy its CPUs with those capabilities disabled but turn them on if they are needed at some point. The Software Defined Silicon (SDSi) technology will also allow Intel to sell fewer CPU models and then enable its clients or partners to activate certain features if needed (to use them on-prem or offer them as a service)."

Apparently Intel believes that subscription-driven microprocessors will be a great revenue stream.

It's not your processor if they control the firmware:

https://youtu.be/Ag1AKIl_2GM?t=57

You can pay a subscription fee to access features that they own.

I will not be buying any new Intel processors.

WheelsAtLarge 3 years ago | |

Right now, Intel produces multiple types of CPUs by having one die and modifying it at will to produce different capabilities or using chips that have some kind of fault that reduces its capabilities but are good enough to function at lower speeds or functions.

The subscription model is better since customers don't have to buy more CPU than what they need plus should they change their mind they can just upgrade. In time, all CPU makers will go with the subscription model since it makes sense in terms of manufacturing, customer satisfaction and company profits.

Environmentally, it also makes sense. There won't be a need to dump your current hardware just because you want to upgrade.

Note: I meant pay-as-you-go, not subscription.

thesuperbigfrog 3 years ago | | |

>> The subscription model is better since customers don't have to buy more CPU than what they need plus should they change their mind they can just upgrade.

On the contrary, with the subscription model, customers must continue to buy the CPU they need and how much they need to pay for it is subject to Intel's whims.

>> In time, all CPU makers will go with the subscription model since it makes sense in terms of manufacturing, customer satisfaction and company profits.

Then we need open hardware. I will not buy hardware that holds my computing hostage.

hakfoo 3 years ago | | |

I find the environmental angle pretty hard to buy.

The ideal customer for this sort of scheme is "I'll buy a 16-core today, and if my business needs grow substantially in two years, I'll unlock it to 24 cores."

This would, under the current scheme, involve opening the case and swapping a CPU. I don't think this happens for any number of reasons:

* Service contracts (and associated obscene costs for manufacturer upgrades) discouraging people from DIY upgrades. Maybe selling it as a service reduces some recalctriance there, but it requires absolute 100% "this will not void your warranty" reassurances.

* Upgrade needs outside the CPU (i. e. new networking or drive interfaces)

The logistics are also sort of ugly. Even if you find a willing customer, the ceiling of the upgrade is presumably the top of the line of that generation. After a few years, this might not be compelling, without some very aggressive pricing. In desktop terms, if you had a Ryzen 1300 today, how much would you be willing to pay to "unlock" it to a 1800X knowing that there are far better 5000 series parts available for cheap?

The idea of "sell everyone the top CPU, and fuse it down in software" also assumes high yields on top-end parts, something Intel has had problems with in recent history. If you're only producing, say, 10% of your parts hitting top specs, will there be enough to go around for both "people who will pay up front for the full chip" and to stock the "upgradeable" pool?

lucasyvas 3 years ago |

Is this the end of Intel?