I can only hope that this speculation proves to be untrue. Surely Intel wouldn't be that stupid - especially considering their success with the Core 2 architecture and how well the chips can overclock. I'm sooooo waiting for Nehalem, but if they do this then I'm going to be really miffed!!! :nono::cussing::banng:

Wonder whether this is a stunt to increase sales of Penryn (even if they later quash this rumour)

Found this, figured id post my opinion of it too.



As they said, it "might be possible". This is pretty strong speculation, and speculation only. :)

Also, lets just assume this is correct, and Intel locks down the system. This would not prevent CPU pin mods from being done... and if you can CPU pin mod a chip, then you can use the BIOS to create the same effect as a pin mod just by changing the voltages around.

So even worst case scenario, motherboard makers can still exert control over the CPU. I am sure there are pins that would modify QPI and memory controller settings, as there are now 1366 of them. :) Right now the worst case scenario I envision is it may require motherboard makers a bit of time to adjust and find these work arounds if Intel locks things down. However, I still firmly believe Intel isn't going to lock down the entire CPU, NB functions and all.

As I recall, there are plenty of Northbridge-less single chip AMD motherboards, since they don't require a MCH either. Just because AMD moved their northbridge into their CPU long ago doesn't have to mean people couldn't overclock their CPUs.... however it DOES make overclocking their CPUs more complicated. Overclocking a Nehalem should prove to be equally complicated, as simple FSB + chipset straps are not going to be the only variables anymore.

AMD has had an integrated memory controler for a while and there arent any problems OCin with it.

Regardless.. They could just make them so they don't have any overclocking headroom. Same as quite a few AMD's. That way it wouldn't matter if they were locked or not.. They could just make them overclock so poorly, it just wouldn't be worth it.

Iv just shed a tear for intel, but like everyone is saying, now there is a nice gap going to be produced in the market for anyone who cares to fill it.

I think intel may mean that they are going to lock the really low end cpu's, for example, the ones you get when you go to pc world and buy some pre-built system with the lowest of the low cpus in it. PERSONALLY!!! im going to go with whats best, as long as it dont mean a mobo change then im not going to complain (obviously got to change for socket reasons but i'll do that when necessary)

I think we all do the same, best of the best only, and whoever that is, we shall buy.

Interesting to see some of the comments left, i was amused to see people who are AMD fans having a chuckle over this. You never know, intel may make some completely insane cpu and some completely insane price which everyone can afford and it sticks in the market for a certain amount of time making amd just go in the shadows for a long time. You never know, personally, i cant wait to see what the outcome of this is.

I think it could be nice to have a gap in the market. See something new come out. Change is always a good thing imho.

AMD released the Tripple core CPU's. I would like to see how they fair out.

Im sure there is a nice review of them somewhere. I know alot of people are going that way now, but then again, those are quads arent they with one core disabled???

Im sure there is a nice review of them somewhere. I know alot of people are going that way now, but then again, those are quads arent they with one core disabled???

That would be an ES chip if there is

I think they`re all going to go this way, and I`m supprized AMD havent gone there first (or said anyway).

Possibly enthusiast variants. Black editions or what not.

It`s all "green", they don`t `want` to support oc`ing gfxcards, or I guess cpus. Not on the basis that they`re "green" (the companies), but it allows a more fixed market where u`ll be less likely to buy the lowest in the range and get the mid to high range results. Prices to suit.

"It`ll all help the environment".

Im sure there is a nice review of them somewhere. I know alot of people are going that way now, but then again, those are quads arent they with one core disabled???

That would be an ES chip if there is and so wouldn't be comparable on that front. I seriously doubt they will lock their chips, I've heard these rumors at least twice in the past for both AMD and Intel lines and its never come to anything.

I wouldn't be surprised if they ran a line of cut price chips with a lock when sales of the unlocked version slow, which would be sneaky as they know enthusiasts would find a way to unlock them and sales would be fantastic.

Wonder whether this is a stunt to increase sales of Penryn (even if they later quash this rumour)

It sure makes sense for my case: I've bought a cheap mobo and CPU to hold until mainstream Nehalem arrives (and the price drops).

On the good side AMD could come back to life if they do lock the speed. This would happen if AMD comes with a better manufacturing process (with something similar to high-k) to improve overclockability or with a better architecture.

Personal speculation: There will be bugs with Intel's integrated controller and there will be a revision or two until they will be fixed... just like what happened with AMD... so this "lock" could be the result of a bug in the early lots (again, this is pure speculation without any fundament whatsoever)

I doubt AMD has disabled a core. I think they need to make more processors faster and a 3-core design is smaller than a 4-core one. Why not 2 cores? Because they lag behind Intel and 3 cores would give a rough clock-per-clock equivalence with Core 2 Duo in applications that can take advantage of more than 2 cores.