- Image via Wikipedia
Intel has announced a controversial pilot scheme that will make it possible for consumers of certain desktop PC’s to pay for an upgrade that will increase the power of their computer processor. Interested users will be able to buy the card which comes with a security key to unlock extra features on the process on the Internet.
The pilot scheme, which is currently restricted to the G6951 Intel Pentium (desktop) processor – a dual core 2.8Ghz chip from the i3 family, will only be made available in a limited number of retail stores. Those who purchase the upgrade will be able to improve the performance of their computer online and avoid either buying a new device or taking their desktop PC to a repair shop.
The upgrade will increase the size of the chip’s cache memory and unlock its hyper-threading technology, which will make it possible for a desktop computer to be more responsive and systematically spread workload across a dual core processor. While Intel has described the pilot scheme as a way of offering “choice and flexibility to consumers, some of its critics say it is a way to trick customers to buy something that is already inherent in the processor. The scheme is expected to be launched in the last quarter of this year.
Talking Point
If you had a choice, would you purchase an upgradable computer processor?