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>> Like when they used to sell mainframes with excess processor capacity then you would pay to unlock the processor that was already there if you need it. IBM

>> Like when they used to sell mainframes with excess processor capacity then you would pay to unlock the processor that was already there if you need it. IBM still does this.

paulmd 4y ago
Everyone still does this. The kvetching about artificial segmentation is a consumer phenomenon. Enterprise actually likes it, because it allows zero-downtime upgrades if needed down the road - you don't have to stop your database for a half hour while the tech upgrades your CPU, you just drop in a new license file that says hey, they paid up, here's a key signature to enable the other cores! and suddenly you have a faster CPU, or more memory, or whatever. This is actually a highly-requested feature on AMD Epyc processors from enterprise customers as well, afaik, so, maybe coming soon. (and it's really not a good thing even in the consumer space... like the "pay to turn on hyperthreading" processor that people flipped out about, that segmentation never went away, AMD and Intel still artificially disable cores for market segmentation, and sometimes still artificially disable SMT (eg 4700U). But now you aren't allowed to pay to turn them on... so if you change your mind and realize you need SMT, now you have to buy a whole new laptop. It's hugely wasteful and expensive. I bet a lot of people who bought a 6600K or 6700K wish they could have paid another $100 to turn on hyperthreading but nope, their only option was paying $350 on ebay for a used 7700K!)
- PixelOfDeath 4y ago
  Genuine Intel incompatible items detected in room. Rectify environment and drink verification can to re-enable subscriptions to: Cores+™ - experience the performance of multiple cores GHz+™ - awesome speed for the latest games and office spreadsheets Memory GiB+™ - make room for multiple applications Note that monthly subscriptions to this Intel Premium Experiences™ will continue regardless of whether re-verification is successfully carried out.
- barkingcat 4y ago
  This is so on point. Consumers don't like it cause they're jealous that there are parts of the chip they can't use yet. Enterprise LOVES this cause they don't want to pay for parts of the chip they can't use yet, but also forsee wanting to use it in the future. Comes down to a CapEx vs OpEx optimization and having that ability to fine tune that balance is a No 1 requested feature.
  - citizenpaul 4y ago
    I wouldn't call it jealous or mad. Just kinda something close to sad. As I go though life I keep getting more aware of as silly as it sounds how many things are designed to strip "joy" from our lives. Even if you only wanted 5/10 of the cores or whatever in this thing and sure you paid less. There will always be that nagging feeling in the back of your head that there is a part of what you paid for being intentionally kept away from you. Effectively stripping your ability to have joy/happiness for your purchase. You don't deserve full use of your product because you didn't hustle/work/strive/stress/struggle hard enough to deserve it. Its just anti-human as all things are becoming now day.
    - barkingcat 4y ago
      meh ... If there is a 5 story apartment building and you rented one apartment that is only a fraction of one of the floors would you be "sad" that you don't get to use all the unrented/empty units in all 5 stories of it? Of course if you want to rent 2 units, the landlord would be happy to give you the keys if you pay the rent for the second unit! I think the people who get sad at using 5/10 cores (and paying less for it) are being unreasonable. It's buffet syndrome, wanting it all and being too greedy. Now if the manufacturer made you pay all the cost of 10 cores and only letting you use 5, that's a different issue.

>> Like when they used to sell mainframes with excess processor capacity then you would pay to unlock the processor that was already there if you need it. IBM still does this.

paulmd 4y ago

Everyone still does this. The kvetching about artificial segmentation is a consumer phenomenon. Enterprise actually likes it, because it allows zero-downtime upgrades if needed down the road - you don't have to stop your database for a half hour while the tech upgrades your CPU, you just drop in a new license file that says hey, they paid up, here's a key signature to enable the other cores! and suddenly you have a faster CPU, or more memory, or whatever. This is actually a highly-requested feature on AMD Epyc processors from enterprise customers as well, afaik, so, maybe coming soon. (and it's really not a good thing even in the consumer space... like the "pay to turn on hyperthreading" processor that people flipped out about, that segmentation never went away, AMD and Intel still artificially disable cores for market segmentation, and sometimes still artificially disable SMT (eg 4700U). But now you aren't allowed to pay to turn them on... so if you change your mind and realize you need SMT, now you have to buy a whole new laptop. It's hugely wasteful and expensive. I bet a lot of people who bought a 6600K or 6700K wish they could have paid another $100 to turn on hyperthreading but nope, their only option was paying $350 on ebay for a used 7700K!)

PixelOfDeath 4y ago
Genuine Intel incompatible items detected in room. Rectify environment and drink verification can to re-enable subscriptions to: Cores+™ - experience the performance of multiple cores GHz+™ - awesome speed for the latest games and office spreadsheets Memory GiB+™ - make room for multiple applications Note that monthly subscriptions to this Intel Premium Experiences™ will continue regardless of whether re-verification is successfully carried out.
barkingcat 4y ago
This is so on point. Consumers don't like it cause they're jealous that there are parts of the chip they can't use yet. Enterprise LOVES this cause they don't want to pay for parts of the chip they can't use yet, but also forsee wanting to use it in the future. Comes down to a CapEx vs OpEx optimization and having that ability to fine tune that balance is a No 1 requested feature.
- citizenpaul 4y ago
  I wouldn't call it jealous or mad. Just kinda something close to sad. As I go though life I keep getting more aware of as silly as it sounds how many things are designed to strip "joy" from our lives. Even if you only wanted 5/10 of the cores or whatever in this thing and sure you paid less. There will always be that nagging feeling in the back of your head that there is a part of what you paid for being intentionally kept away from you. Effectively stripping your ability to have joy/happiness for your purchase. You don't deserve full use of your product because you didn't hustle/work/strive/stress/struggle hard enough to deserve it. Its just anti-human as all things are becoming now day.
  - barkingcat 4y ago
    meh ... If there is a 5 story apartment building and you rented one apartment that is only a fraction of one of the floors would you be "sad" that you don't get to use all the unrented/empty units in all 5 stories of it? Of course if you want to rent 2 units, the landlord would be happy to give you the keys if you pay the rent for the second unit! I think the people who get sad at using 5/10 cores (and paying less for it) are being unreasonable. It's buffet syndrome, wanting it all and being too greedy. Now if the manufacturer made you pay all the cost of 10 cores and only letting you use 5, that's a different issue.