You will have no CPU and you will be happy. Intel is quietly withdrawing

The principle of operation was simple: the user bought a processor whose potential could not be fully used. Yes, we were supposed to have access to all cores and threads and the full range of clock speeds. However, additional IP blocks and some accelerators were physically available but programmatically disabled. They could be used only after paying for an appropriate license or subscription.

This solution was announced in 2021 and initially affected only Xeon processors. So we’re mainly talking about servers and the Linux environment. Therefore, it is easy to expect the reaction of potential customers: they were very negative towards the idea. The main complaints were that they had to pay twice for the same thing. Especially since, from their perspective, they would have to pay additionally for functions that are already included in the processors they purchased. There were also comparisons to DLC in games, where additional content was included in the product and additional payment only unlocked it.

However, as noted by Phoronix editor Michael Larabel, Intel is quietly withdrawing these plans. And although there is no mention of Intel’s official position here, numerous circumstantial evidence points to it. Let’s start with the fact that Intel has been completely silent on this topic for over a year. There is no information available about this service. What’s more, mention of it even disappeared from the manufacturer’s website. The only thing left is access to several PDF files describing the service, which can only be accessed through Internet search engines. It is also crucial that there are no implementations of this solution in the company’s latest processors.

What caught the eye of the Phoronix editor, however, was the fact that the Intel SDSi project on GitHub, which was key to Intel On Demand, was archived last November. This is tantamount to the lack of its further support and development.