Intel to drop overclocking for mainstream Nehalems

[chrissss]

Only Bloomfield-based CPUs will overclock

We've learned that Intel is going to change its policy on overclocking once it moves away from the LGA775 platform onto the desktop Nehalem platform, which is currently known as Bloomfield, which uses the LGA1366 socket. This will be the only platform from Intel which will overclock in the future, as the company is not going to support overclocking on other platforms.

Below the Bloomfield is the Lynnfield and Havendale processors, both using the LGA1160 socket. Neither of these are likely to get any overclocking abilities, although we're not sure how Intel can prevent third-party motherboard manufacturers from adding overclocking features to their boards.

However, with most of the Northbridge being located inside the CPU of these models, it might be possible for Intel to make some changes as to what the BIOS can access and how the bus speed is controlled. If this is indeed the case, then this is very sad news for all enthusiasts, as it means that a huge group of users will never be able to afford to buy an overclockable platform, from Intel, that is.

It's early days as yet and Intel might change its stance on this, but we find it peculiar that they've decided on this move; but it's never easy to figure out the reason why Intel does something.

http://www.fudzilla.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6965&Itemid=1

Delete if this has been posted before please.

 

[dazz25]

That's shocking. Surely mobo manufacturers will find a way around this!

 

[Strife212]

Are the ones being locked celeron equivalents? Not kept up with Nahalem. They are a completely different socket, I know that much.

 

[Fothsn]

A load of cobblers, it will dent Intel big time if they put some sort of prevention to stop overclocking, doesn’t make sense.

 

[Schnippzle]

A load of cobblers, it will dent Intel big time if they put some sort of prevention to stop overclocking, doesn’t make sense.

Quite right, but if its true Im pretty sure mb manufacturers will find a way around this

 

[randal]

Yeah but if a lot of the NB functions are on the CPU die itself, then I'm sure they're going to have a hell of a time doing it. Plus, if Intel really wanted to they could dictate the spec constraints I guess thus making things really difficult.

I can't say I'm surprised to hear they're doing this, Intel have long allowed consumers to get flagship performance for peanuts when overclocking so it was only a matter of time before they clamped down in an attempt to recoup some high end money. What better time to do it when the competition isn't really giving you much to worry about...

I'll be interested to see if this plays out (do you believe Fud?), and more interested in AMD's response. It's this kind of bold move that forces equally bold responses from the other side.

 

[chrissss]

Well by the way things are looking, Even if intel did this, I am not sure if it would really affect their sales.

If the intel CPUs still outperform the amd counterparts, people won't go over to AMD.

 

[VoG]

it will dent Intel big time if they put some sort of prevention to stop overclocking

no it won't, the enthusiast market is a small proportion of there over all sales, it's the likes of Dell etc that generate the most cash for Intel, and the sys builders won't bat an eye lid at any loss of over clocking function.

 

[Fothsn]

no it won't, the enthusiast market is a small proportion of there over all sales, it's the likes of Dell etc that generate the most cash for Intel, and the sys builders won't bat an eye lid at any loss of over clocking function.

You can honestly say Intel preventing people over clocking there chips will not dent them as a company, I’m sorry it sure will.

 

[J.D]

Good news for AMD . If Intel are going to threaten all of us who love to tinkle around with our PC's and push hardware faster than it's meant to go then AMD will get our money. Simple as that. I'm not bothered about this in the slightest. If Intel want to do this then fine, AMD will get my cash .

 

[VoG]

You can honestly say Intel preventing people over clocking there chips will not dent them as a company, I’m sorry it sure will.

oh i don't doubt they'll lose some sales, but dent them as a company?, no. the majority of there chips go to the Dell's & Compaq's etc, the bulk brown box shifters who sell a whole system based on price, and not oc ability. compared to that, the enthusiast market is just a small, but noisy, drop in the ocean.

 

[mdjmcnally]

You can honestly say Intel preventing people over clocking there chips will not dent them as a company, I’m sorry it sure will.

Question, how many chips do enthusiats buy, How many do Dell, HP, IBM buy that sit in corporate machines.

If any enthusiast seriously believes that it is the enthusiats where Intel makes it's money then they are deluded. If you removed the profit from the enthusiasts then it wouldn't be noticeable except to an accountant.

CPU's like GPU's make money in the corporate OEM market where it is all of the mainstream, sits there and does it's job, no one plays with the settings, tweaks the system etc.

 

[Tute]

Doesn't surprise me - i've always thought this kind of thing is more a case of when than if.

Intel doesn't want you buying a £40 CPU and running it at the speed of their £1,000 extreme edition do they?

I'll just go back to AMD personally.

 

[wolvers]

I'm not sure that I believe this story at all. It doesn't make any sense for Intel to pull out of the enthusiast market, which is what this would effectively do.

 

[psychas]

im confused i thought nehalm is LGA1366 socket?

 

[p4radox]

You can honestly say Intel preventing people over clocking there chips will not dent them as a company, I’m sorry it sure will.

Won't make a blind bit of difference. 99.9% of Intel's chips will never be overclocked, as 99.9% of buyers don't even know what overclocking is.

 

[Fothsn]

oh i don't doubt they'll lose some sales, but dent them as a company?, no. the majority of there chips go to the Dell's & Compaq's etc, the bulk brown box shifters who sell a whole system based on price, and not oc ability. compared to that, the enthusiast market is just a small, but noisy, drop in the ocean.

That’s true, if it’s the case of Intel preventing the enthusiast from oveclocking there chips that would mean most if not all move back to AMD I honestly don’t see Intel letting this happen Just baffles me really. I admit I’m no expert in this field so it’s just my thoughts

 

[jonislost]

Doesn't surprise me - i've always thought this kind of thing is more a case of when than if.

Intel doesn't want you buying a £40 CPU and running it at the speed of their £1,000 extreme edition do they?

I'll just go back to AMD personally.

I've always thought the same. It's like paying for a 1.1 clio and turning into a 2.5 litre beamer for free.

 

[J.D]

Intel doesn't want you buying a £40 CPU and running it at the speed of their £1,000 extreme edition do they?

I'll just go back to AMD personally.

Sound thinking. What's the point of bothering about one company if they took this stand when the other company is close in performance, is cheaper and reliable?.

Can Intel overclock each core separately and run at that speed?.

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From my last post I wasn't indicating that the enthusiast would change the market. Just that we'd all just go to AMD to keep our overclocking hobby alive!.

 

[Fothsn]

Won't make a blind bit of difference. 99.9% of Intel's chips will never be overclocked, as 99.9% of buyers don't even know what overclocking is.

99.9% Where is that figure from?? .01% is the enthusiast market? Doubt it.