Intel Sandy Bridge - Reviews and Discussions

[mrcrusty]

Hai2uall,

As you may know, the brand new line of Intel processors is due to come out soon (or now), and there are several reviews released for the CPUs on the LGA 1155 socket.

This includes the Intel Core i3 2300, Intel Core i5 2400, Intel Core i5 2500k and the Intel Core i7 2600k.

These are the typical price/performance Intel range replacing the i3 530, i5 760 and i7 930 we have currently from Intel.

Reviews:

Anandtech

Hardware Heaven

Bit-Tech

Overclock3d

Guru3d

Maximum PC

PC Perspective

Vortez

Videos:

Spoiler for Video Introduction to EFI - MaximumPC: 

Spoiler for Intel Sandy Bridge Video Review + OC - Overclock3d.net: 

Spoiler for Intel Sandy Bridge Q&A - Anandtech.com: 

Verdict:

So far, the verdict of Intel's Sandy Bridge processors for the LGA 1155 socket have unanimously positive. They manage to be more power efficient, more powerful and overclock better than their predecessor units in the LGA 1156 range.

The architectural changes to Sandy Bridge over Nehalem in terms of IPC (instructions per clock) and raw processing power have been evolutionary, not revolutionary, providing for strong, yet not amazing performance gains. The biggest change to the CPUs has arguably been the switch to the 32nm manufacturing process, from the 45nm manufacturing process used for the Nehalem processors (Westmere based Hex Cores excluded). The smaller die size reduces current leakage in integrated circuits, allowing for higher clock speeds and better performance at equal or lower power consumption and presumably, lower prices (since more CPUs can be manufactured on a single piece of silicon wafer).

However, the introduction of U/EFI (Universal Extended Firmwire Interface) and the possible phasing out of BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) in future chipsets is a massive step forward in personal and enterprise computing and is imo, the crowning feature of Sandy Bridge.

It is my view Sandy Bridge processors and LGA 1155 motherboards would make for an excellent upgrade from just about any current generation processor and motherboard set. For those with older (AM2/+, LGA 775) motherboards and processors looking to upgrade their computers, Sandy Bridge is especially appealing.

[Cougman21]

For someone who has a duo core atm I'm pretty excited to see these new chips come out. I'm defenitly upgrading but I cant decide if I should get the 2600 or 2500. Having issues finding a decently priced motherboard with that 1155 socket tho.

[mrcrusty]

For someone who has a duo core atm I'm pretty excited to see these new chips come out. I'm defenitly upgrading but I cant decide if I should get the 2600 or 2500. Having issues finding a decently priced motherboard with that 1155 socket tho.

The 2500k looks very good for the price. Something like i7 950 performance or better at i5 760 prices.

[Freddie]

Is it 'Game Over' for AMD?
(I love that phrase you just don't see that in video games these days)




This is kind of worrying, given how much faster a 4 core Sandy Bridge chip is over AMD fastest 6 core monster and being over 50% larger I do fear for AMD's long term future especially since we don't know when they will switch to 32nm.




Bi-Tech is probably the most trust worthy site so I just hope that this is correct because if it is then it's staggering the progress Intel has made on it's power efficiency.

[Big Boss]

This is kind of worrying, given how much faster a 4 core Sandy Bridge chip is over AMD fastest 6 core monster and being over 50% larger I do fear for AMD's long term future especially since we don't know when they will switch to 32nm.

AMD's making 32nm chips as we speak...? Bulldozer, Llano, and Brazos (IIRC) are all 32nm chips.

[snuggans]

so glad i'm still stuck back here with a Core2Duo and didn't spend money on an i7.

since i need to upgrade my motherboard as well, i'm definitely going with a Sandy Bridge this year.

[mrcrusty]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I may actually consider ditching my AMD rig and going for a 2500k rig if the prices aren't horrible here in Australia.

[Freddie]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I may actually consider ditching my AMD rig and going for a 2500k rig if the prices aren't horrible here in Australia.

From what I make out a Core i5 2500k should cost around about the same as a Core i5 760.

I'm now so tempted to ditch this crappy Q6700 o/c to rather embarrassing 3.3ghz (hell these chips run higher then then that at stock and do more work per clock to boot). It was also interesting to listen to Tom at OC3D (English guy who does video reviews) who has speculated that there was something inherently wrong with the LGA1156 chips hence why Intel has seemingly rushed out it's replacement in a short period of time.

[nightwar]

From what I make out a Core i5 2500k should cost around about the same as a Core i5 760.

I'm now so tempted to ditch this crappy Q6700 o/c to rather embarrassing 3.3ghz (hell these chips run higher then then that at stock and do more work per clock to boot). It was also interesting to listen to Tom at OC3D (English guy who does video reviews) who has speculated that there was something inherently wrong with the LGA1156 chips hence why Intel has seemingly rushed out it's replacement in a short period of time.

I already bought a asus Mitx Motherboard and will get a 2600k when it's released.

[Kawee]

The reviews are ridiculously good. I wonder if there's going to be a catch somewhere, like expensive motherboards or something. It just looks too good to be true.

[Top-Tier-Tech]

So basically the AMD Black edition 6 core, 6 thread CPU overclocked to 4.2 Ghz. can't even match an intel 4 core, 4 thread CPU at stock under "multi-tasking and overall performance" in Bit-tech's review. That's just sad. Wow.

[mrcrusty]

So basically the AMD Black edition 6 core, 6 thread CPU overclocked to 4.2 Ghz. can't even match an intel 4 core, 4 thread CPU at stock under "multi-tasking and overall performance" in Bit-tech's review. That's just sad. Wow.

How's that sad? Intel has always had the better architecture in the current generation meaning better performance in single threaded applications. The i5 760 beats the Hex Core Phenoms.

In multi threaded applications like cinebench or wprime though, it takes the 2500k overclocked to almost 5 Ghz to beat the Phenom x6.

But personally, I don't care about CPU benchmarks or random day to day applications. If I really cared about speed in such applications, I'd buy an SSD and stuff everything onto it.

I care about 4 things in a CPU. Gaming Performance, Price, Power Consumption/Heat, Overclocking. Sandy Bridge ticks 3/4 so far. If it's cheap enough, I'm ditching my AMD rig for it, AMD fanboyism be damned.

[karamazovmm]

I seriously dont care for performance on the desktop range for SB chips. Since you all know that mobile parts are always getting the kick in the lower part of the canister that is my body, Im considering to upgrade the mobo of my notebook just to get that SB goodness.

Seriously guys the performance increase for desktops is only at the usual 10-20% but looking at a i7 2820qm kicking a i7 920 in the butt is something pretty snazzy to say the least.

Now if we only get good gpus, the world of desktops is going to shrink much more than it currently is.

[Stavroforos]

So, when these come out, we'll see a reduction in price of the current range of i's?

[Jaketh]

im not interested until one of them releases a 12 core, cause thats the next logical upgrade from my aging q6600

[Top-Tier-Tech]

im not interested until one of them releases a 12 core, cause thats the next logical upgrade from my aging q6600

I'll upgrade when I see an octa-core CPU. You'll be waiting a long time for that 12 core.

[mrcrusty]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-272-_-Product

I hope you like servers Jake.



I'm getting an x6 in the next couple of days, so I'm on the fence, but plan A is to wait for Bulldozer and buy an AM3+ motherboard for my CPU before moving onto an Octo Core in 2012, or 2013 if the world doesn't end.

Plan B is to give the finger to AMD and get an SB Intel system.

[Cougman21]

I'm trying to get my job back now so I can afford a SB and some other upgrades soon I hope.

Speaking of SB...anyone know a cheaper motherboard, maybe between $100-200, for the SB 1155 socket?

[Jaketh]

I'll upgrade when I see an octa-core CPU. You'll be waiting a long time for that 12 core.

i can wait, my core 2 quad still runs everything fine

[Top-Tier-Tech]

i can wait, my core 2 quad still runs everything fine

Keep telling yourself that you poor little man.