Intel may bring CPU overclocking to lower-priced desktop chips
Intel may eventually bring unlocked multipliers to lower-priced desktop CPUs. In an interview cited by PC Games Hardware, Robert Hallock said Intel wants to deliver “more and more unlocked SKUs over time,” and added that overclocking should not stay limited to buyers spending the most on a processor.
That would mark a shift from Intel’s current desktop lineup, where traditional multiplier overclocking has largely remained tied to K-series parts. PCGH also notes that Intel did not name any specific products or launch windows, so we do not know if this applies to upcoming series or something Intel is planning long-term.
What you will see is more and more unlocked SKUs over time. That is the goal. That should not be a feature that is exclusively reserved for the people paying the most amount of money. Not everyone can afford the most amount of money […] and that doesn’t make them any less an enthusiastic than the person who can spend 500 USD on a CPU. They are still PC enthusiasts, and they deserve the same level of features, and that is what we intend to deliver in our roadmap.
-Robert Hallock
Intel team responsible for CPUs now has more freedom
The same report says Intel is also reshaping how it handles the desktop self-builder market. According to Hallock, the DIY desktop segment is now managed separately from Intel’s OEM business, which could give the company more room to tailor products and features for retail builders instead of large system vendors.
What Intel still has not explained is how far this opening would go at the platform level. On Intel desktop systems, overclocking access is tied not only to the CPU but also to motherboard and chipset support, so any broader rollout would likely require more than just adding unlocked multipliers to cheaper processors.
Nova Lake and Z900 series
What we do know is that next-gen CPUs as part of the Core Ultra 400 series will have several variants, including the new 400DX/400D variants with Big Last Level Cache. Intel will also have two high-end motherboard platforms for the new socket: Z990 and Z970 , so perhaps the CPUs won’t be locked, but some features will not be available on the cheaper boards.
Source: PC Games Hardware
