Intel Starts Shipping Haswell Processors to OEMs

[smeezekitty]

[citation][nom]InvalidError[/nom]How is that "switching back"? Intel has never had BGA CPUs for mainstream desktops before, Broadwell would be the first time assuming Intel does not skip conventional desktop PCs altogether with Broadwell to focus entirely on all-in-one/tablet/ultrabook/SFF.Since most people will never upgrade whatever CPU they buy with the original system (I have not bothered upgrading a CPU without upgrading the rest of the platform along with it in the last 12 years), the CPU being soldered to the motherboard won't matter for the vast majority of people.[/citation]
Some early pre-pentium computers used soldered surface mount or through hole CPUs.

 

[InvalidError]

[citation][nom]smeezekitty[/nom]Some early pre-pentium computers used soldered surface mount or through hole CPUs.[/citation]
The 8088 used a socketed DIP package, the 8086 and 80286 used a socketed QFP package, the 386SX/DX and 486SX/DX were PGA package.

None of the pre-Pentium PCs I remember (dis)assembling used soldered CPUs.