On: Intel wants to charge $50 to unlock stuff your CPU...

[strebler]

Funny related sidenote: the Chinese government was at one point so paranoid about buying processors from western companies that they initiated the creation of their own CPU architecture and began fabrication. They had a fear that outside CPUs could be programmed to be disabled (either remotely or under certain scenarios).

In any case, the processors were reportedly quite bad and the whole thing was eventually dropped.

[caf → strebler]

That would be the Loongson.

It's a reasonably performing MIPS clone, and the project is still active.

[strebler → caf]

You're right, it's still active. I just remember it having terrible performance 4-5 years ago and interest in it being less than stellar.