Editing intel/upgrade service

{{intel title|Upgrade Service}}
'''Upgrade Service''' was a service offered by [[Intel]] allowing specific models to be upgraded via software. The service was introduced in late September 2010 with {{intel|Westmere|l=arch}} and was later expanded with {{intel|Sandy Bridge|l=arch}} in 2011. The service was discontinued in 2013.

== Compatible models ==
Only a handful of models could be upgraded via this service:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compatible Model !! colspan="3" | Post-Upgrade Model
|-
! Model !! Frequency !! Cache !! Model !! Frequency !! Cache
|-
| [[Core i3-2312M]] || 2.1 GHz || 3 MiB || [[Core i3-2393M]] || 2.5 GHz || 4 MiB
|-
| [[Core i3-2332M]] || 2.2 GHz || 3 MiB|| [[Core i3-2394M]] || 2.6 GHz || 4 MiB
|-
| [[Core i3-2102]] || 3.1 GHz || 3 MiB || [[Core i3-2153]] || 3.6 GHz || 3 MiB
|-
| [[Pentium G622]] || 2.6 GHz || 3 MiB || [[Pentium G693]] || 3.2 GHz || 3 MiB
|-
| [[Pentium G632]] || 2.7 GHz || 3 MiB || [[Pentium G694]] || 3.3 GHz || 3 MiB
|-
| [[Pentium G6951]] || 2.8 GHz || 3 MiB || [[Pentium G6952]] || 2.8 GHz + {{intel|HyperThreading|HT}} || 4 MiB
|}

Additionally, those models can only be upgraded with:

* 6 Series Chipsets ({{intel|Cougar Point}})
* 5 Series Chipsets ({{intel|Ibex Peak}})

== Mechanism ==
Upgrade could be done by purchasing a scratch-off card from a store such as Best Buy. A software was then required to be installed which requires the code on the card to be activated (validation is done using Intel's activation server). The change is semi-permanent and is associated with a motherboard and not the CPU. Activation is likely saved on the motherboard along with the [[BIOS]]. Therefore upgrading the motherboard will get rid of the upgrade. Additionally, in cases such as hardware failure one has to request a new activation code for their upgrade card and re-run the upgrade.

== Motivation ==
As with most companies, Intel makes use of price segmentation. Price segmentation allows Intel to go after the low end of the market with a lower price devices without compromising pricing of their mainstream and high-end product lines. Upgrade Service was designed for low-end models that were mostly used exclusively by OEM for low-end laptops and tablets. The motivation is to allow customers who obtained a low-end/budget device (i.e., purchase a low end device, bought used, or simply received as a gift) upgrade the computer later on. The upgrade would improve performance by roughly one tier. That is the {{intel|Pentium (2009)|Pentium}} models would be at roughly {{intel|Core i3}} level and the Core i3 would be at roughly the low-end {{intel|Core i5}} models. 

For a well-integrated device such as a tablet or laptop as well as customers who rather buy a complete system, "virtually upgrading" the processor by unlocking additional performance for a small fee could be a desirable upgrade path for some customers after a few years. This allows them to increase performance should their workload demand it without replacing the entire device.

== Controversy ==
The introduction of Upgrade Service was seen as a rather controversial program primarily due to misunderstanding of its intended purpose. Many online tech websites such as [[wikipedia:Engadget|Engadget]] describing the feature as "[https://www.engadget.com/2010/09/18/intel-wants-to-charge-50-to-unlock-stuff-your-cpu-can-already-d/ unlock stuff your CPU already has]". PC Perspective [https://www.pcper.com/news/Processors/Intel-selling-scratch-software-CPU-upgrades noted] that for the Pentium part, it's only $15 to buy a Core i3 instead of purchasing the Pentium+upgrade card. Unfortunately comparing the two options is not entirely correct as the upgrade card was never intended to be used in such way. Furthermore no {{intel|Clarkdale|l=core}}-based Pentiums had {{intel|Hyper-Threading}} enabled - a feature enabled by Upgrade Service. Therefore it was not unlocking something that was processor already had, but rather introducing a feature only found in more performant and expensive processors.
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	== Controversy ==		== Controversy ==
−	The introduction of Upgrade Service was seen as a rather controversial program primarily due to misunderstanding of its intended purpose. Many online tech websites such as [[wikipedia:Engadget\|Engadget]] describing the feature as "[https://www.engadget.com/2010/09/18/intel-wants-to-charge-50-to-unlock-stuff-your-cpu-can-already-d/ unlock stuff your CPU already has]". PC Perspective [https://www.pcper.com/news/Processors/Intel-selling-scratch-software-CPU-upgrades noted] that for the Pentium part, it's only $15 to buy a Core i3 instead of purchasing the Pentium+upgrade card. Furthermore no {{intel\|Clarkdale\|l=core}}-based Pentiums had {{intel\|Hyper-Threading}} enabled - a feature enabled by Upgrade Service.	+	The introduction of Upgrade Service was seen as a rather controversial program primarily due to misunderstanding of its intended purpose. Many online tech websites such as [[wikipedia:Engadget\|Engadget]] describing the feature as "[https://www.engadget.com/2010/09/18/intel-wants-to-charge-50-to-unlock-stuff-your-cpu-can-already-d/ unlock stuff your CPU already has]". PC Perspective [https://www.pcper.com/news/Processors/Intel-selling-scratch-software-CPU-upgrades noted] that for the Pentium part, it's only $15 to buy a Core i3 instead of purchasing the Pentium+upgrade card. Unfortunately comparing the two options is not entirely correct as the upgrade card was never intended to be used in such way. Furthermore no {{intel\|Clarkdale\|l=core}}-based Pentiums had {{intel\|Hyper-Threading}} enabled - a feature enabled by Upgrade Service. Therefore it was not unlocking something that was processor already had, but rather introducing a feature only found in more performant and expensive processors.