I’ve learned many and very important things---as always, more to come over time in this unfolding story…..and I stand by all of them:
Intel, which is struggling & bleeding profits far more than I knew, esp given Apple is phasing them out and may well end up buying them…
.
….will almost certainly, soon, go all BGA. And, as I came to, in favor of the burgeoning mobile market. Same deal with Apple, of course.
Now, I also get, the membership of this community is far more oriented to wanting fully configurable elements in desktops, and build their own rigs FAR more than the average PC user. Far more. I don’t build my own rigs, but I count myself among those who want configurable elements built to last and the options those afford.
This means, while Intel may still say it will make some socketable chips….it’s phasing out making boards altogether, they say, except for high end desktops/servers, etc……my take is those will incredibly expensive as their numbers diminish. Including my beloved, huge, magnificently made, entirely configurable Optiplex mini towers.
Clearly, there will be a growing aftermarket for older parts….but for me, that too is depressing given what it will reflect.
I explored the source of my preferences….cause that’s what I do, I delve, starting within…..and as many times as I’ve replaced motherboards, only once for myself, mainly for others, not once except for upgrading a chip, did I ever know a CPU to die. The convenience of being able to buy a decent motherboard alone and seating a chosen or existing chip…..for me, is huge.
Soon, the only viable option will be to buy a mobo unit with a BGA chip nobody can replace.
All this also reflects what the average device owner uses their devices for; FAR less and more mundane things than what I use my go to desktop for.
It’s been a long time since Apple has offered other than all in ones as iMacs…..and I now feel that too will be the wave of the ‘”desktop” future across the board.
So, all those here who build their own rigs…..uber gamers, many it seems even with water cooling……will soon have their options change. Tho also true, the new chip/board units will not generate the level of heat we have all gotten used to. Gotta track the specifics of that and see it all in perspective.
What I am still not clear about: the life expectancy of BGA chips and the boards they are soldered to. But would it surprise me if the Mfg. standards became far lower than what we are used to? Of course not! The OPPOSITE would surprise me. Same deal with mobile devices….not made to last, and advertising creates lust within the malleable to upgrade ongoing…..cause many are hostage to their version of COOL. Which is not MY version of cool.
As I said, like everything else in life……it’s a JOURNEY.
But this is a very big deal re the future of full size desktops.
Anyone here is entitled to believe I leapt to anything without discernment until Wolverines become rappers and Kanye shuts up. I am not more perfect than any other humans, but I do nothing without discernment. (No, I have no clue where the wolverine rappers and Kanye came from but it made me smile.)
Again, I stand by all I have come to in this serious journey….and will bet money on all of it.
And naturally, having learned all the unexpected things I have, I will now track all this ongoing….along with infinite other things.