> What is the financial benefit to Intel in artificially limiting its CPU sockets like this?
They (Intel) also make the chipsets that go on the motherboards. So anyone who disposes of their old motherboard and buys a new motherboard because of this limitation results in:
1) new CPU sale to Intel
2) new chipset sale to Intel (indirect sale via the motherboard manufacturer)
Given that a "new CPU" sale plus a "new motherboard chipset" sale is more revenue to Intel than just a "new CPU" sale alone the financial benefit becomes obvious.
Not to mention that they know people have to upgrade, and in not that long of a time (5 years-ish?).
The strategy doesn't work if it was something like a car where the lifespan is 20+ years, but with high turnover they have people over a barrel. Now AMD competes, but I think we forget that this is a new thing (and likely because if you're on HN, you're deep in this environment). So the big question is: will Intel continue, or will they recognize that they don't have the choice anymore. That is, of course, as long as AMD decides to not play the same game.
They (Intel) also make the chipsets that go on the motherboards. So anyone who disposes of their old motherboard and buys a new motherboard because of this limitation results in:
Given that a "new CPU" sale plus a "new motherboard chipset" sale is more revenue to Intel than just a "new CPU" sale alone the financial benefit becomes obvious.