Intel server customers can get more flexible options when shopping for server CPUs in the future. Intel has just announced it’s On Demand program, which allows users to pay to unlock certain features after purchasing a server CPU.
Intel says the On Demand program includes.
Security upgrades
Intel® Software Protection Extensions
Communication and Storage Suite
Intel® Rapid Assist Technology
Intel® Dynamic Load Balancer
Intel® Data Flow Accelerator
Analytics Suite
Intel® Memory Analysis Accelerator
Intel® Data Flow Accelerator
Intel’s division of some features into pay-per-purchase options means the company can reduce its SKU lineup in the future. And in the future, users will not need to change processors to pay for certain new features. Intel describes this as a new “consumption model” in which customers can combine their infrastructure with the necessary services when they need them.
This new program is currently focused on data centers, and fortunately, there are no official plans to include consumer hardware. However, Intel has already experimented with the idea of unlocking consumer hardware for a fee. The program, called the Intel Upgrade Service, makes it possible to unlock greater cache or hyperthreading support on certain low-end CPUs.
