Intel apparently did not like what motherboard makers have been recently doing with "non-Z" Haswell K-series overclocking that allows K-series chips to be overclocked on H87 and B85 Express chipset based motherboards. ASRock was one of the first motherboard makers to include such a feature and was quickly followed by the rest of the MB makers by simply releasing a new BIOS firmware.

Of course, overclocking experience and actual result on both the H87 and B85 Express chipset based motherboards was never meant to be even close to the Z87 chipset but nevertheless, according to a report at Hardware.fr, it appears that Intel is not too happy about it and will be releasing a new firmware update for H87 and B85 chipset that will actively block the non-Z OC feature. According to our source, the new microcode is already implemented and some B85 and H87 motherboards will not have the unlocked multiplier for K-series Haswell CPUs.

Of course, it is still not clear if motherboard manufacturers will have to blindly follow Intel's guidelines or the update in question is a choice that Intel wants to offer to consumers.

Intel can and will force, if they decide so, at least some of the motherboard makers to implement this update and give up on non-Z OC feature as in these rough times, some motherboard makers will simply decide that it is too much hassle to go against Intel's wishes and demands.

Source: Wccftech.com, Hardware.fr.