Home / Technology / Intel Abandons Processor Feature Unlock Scheme
Intel Abandons Processor Feature Unlock Scheme
13 Feb
Summary
- Intel quietly shut down its pay-as-you-go hardware upgrade initiative.
- The program allowed customers to pay to activate dormant processor features.
- Large cloud operators showed little interest in the additional fees.
Intel has ceased its pay-as-you-go hardware upgrade effort, Intel On Demand, with minimal public notice. Evidence of this closure includes the archiving of its GitHub repository and removal of supporting website pages. Software updates for the feature have also stopped, indicating its discontinuation.
The Intel On Demand program allowed customers to pay to unlock features such as QuickAssist and Data Streaming Accelerator, which were pre-installed but disabled on select Xeon processors. This model aimed to provide flexible access to existing silicon capabilities.
However, the initiative struggled with adoption. Large cloud operators, significant buyers of processors, were unenthusiastic about paying extra for features already present on their purchased hardware. Smaller businesses also faced concerns regarding long-term costs and operational complexity.
This move by Intel echoes its earlier attempt with the Intel Upgrade Service in the early 2010s, which also faced criticism for charging users to unlock processor features. The repeated failure of pay-to-use models for hardware capabilities suggests a misalignment with customer expectations, who generally anticipate full hardware availability at the point of sale.
