Intel to End Overclocking on Mainstream Products

File this under "ZOMG!! OH, NOES!!!!" - there are unconfirmed reports that CPU giant Intel plans to cease overclocking support for its mainstream product lines - a move that if true, will certainly send shock waves throughout the PC enthusiast community.  The OC stoppage is allegedly to take effect when Intel moves away from the LGA775 socket, leaving the upcoming Nehalem desktop platform - named Bloomfield, which uses the new LGA1366 socket - as Intel's only remaining overclockable hardware.  While it's currently unclear exactly how Intel intends to prevent overclocking via third-party motherboards supporting its upcoming Lynnfield and Havendale platforms - both of which will use yet another new socket, LGA1160 - one theory suggests that since the greater portion of the Northbridge is actually inside the CPU on these platforms, Intel could limit the extent to which the BIOS is allowed to interact with and alter factors like bus speed.  Stay tuned for more details as this story develops...

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Comp Dude2 on April 22, 2008 02:16AM NOOOOOOOOOOO!!.............. reply to this

Thewacokid on April 22, 2008 03:15AM Well that sucks...at least AMD plans to support it in the future. reply to this

sYstEmATiC on April 22, 2008 10:59AM sounds like a bad business move, they try to cut oc'ing so they can sell their $1000 chips but in reality it just means less enthusiasts will buy intel chips...its a shame. reply to this

capthowdy575 on April 22, 2008 01:36PM lol its so funny what people will be leave. i highly doubt intel would do such a thing they would loose almost half of there profits i could see them not allowing it on lower end like celerons and things like that reply to this

razor on April 22, 2008 04:18PM well, if true, it almost seems like Intel is trying to create a dedicated, high priced "Enthusiast" line. it's worth repeating that this report is unconfirmed... reply to this