[citation][nom]De5_roy[/nom]from what i've read so far, ... intel couldn't (or intentionally didn't, to sell ivb) validate for pcie 3.0 in time for sb-e launch.intel will never sell an unlocked, <32nm dual core/triple core/core-unlockable cpu. i think they ended with i5 655k. they would do this to protect the unlocked i5 and some lower priced i7s. hell, they even make seperate cpu dies. it isn't about consumer convenience. it is, and always has been, about money. they segment their products in a way that customers have to pay more to get better desired performance. the lack of competition in the i5/i7 price segment doesn't help either... i read somewhere that because of the new 22nm design, newer 3d finfet tech etc somehow made the cpu more fragile, may be the solder would put more pressure on the cpu. another reason is the one more well-known: to sell ivb without hurting the sb sales while focusing on mobile sector. the ivb cpus have higher tjmax so stock isn't usually the problem. oc is where the heat and temp issues start and intel intentionally sidestepped them with ivb.intel is in a place where they can enforce certain things on users as no one's there to challenge them. and they are not diong anything illegal this time e.g. in ivb oc case, intel openly says that they do not cover component overclocking in their standard warranty (neither does amd).amd isn't anywhere near where intel is and they don't seem to be chasing intel that way. their biggest asset has been their way of out-strategizing intel like they did by designing the brazos and llano apus. i am expecting them to do the same with trinity and piledriver although it doesn't seem like they've succeeded so far. i really hope they turn around soon.[/citation]
I wasn't asking as if I thought that Intel made mistakes with some of those, I was giving examples of Intel's *abuse* of enthusiasts. Also, using proper paste, although not as good as solder, would have still helped greatly on Ivy Bridge, I wasn't referring to unlocked multipliers with the i3s (all i5s and i7s can be overclocked regardless of the multiplier unlocking by about 20-30% through the Turbo settings and for the more adventurous, BLCK overclocking), and I realize why Intel does things. I just don't agree with a lot of it. I also don't agree with a lot of what AMD does, but at least at this time, they're not trying to screw their customers AFAIK; they're just screwing themselves.