Broadwell-E 10 Core Costs $1723

[brandonmatic]

Nehalem/Lynnfield user checking in. This is Intel's way of making up the money it has lost on users like me who are still using 7-year old CPUs because they still get the job done reasonably well. If consumers are going to sit on their old processors for 5+ years because of slowing improvements in process/architecture and because older processors are "good enough" then they are going to make sure they get a reasonable amount of money when they do sell a new one.

 

[brandonmatic]

I don't think spending $1700 on a CPU means you are wealthy. Wealthy means that you can buy a $300K sports car in cash and not bat an eye. That is wealthy.

With proper saving and with a passion for PC gaming, a high end gaming system even with a 6950X is not out of reach for somebody of modest means.

There's no canonical definition of "wealthy.: You seem to be defining it as roughly the top 0.0001% of the world's population by income or the top 0.01% in the US. If you define wealthy as the top 5% of the US by income/wealth - which also seems reasonable - then $1700 on a CPU and $4000 on a system is significant and arguably limited to the wealthy or near wealthy.

 

[Arachnotronic]

There's no canonical definition of "wealthy.: You seem to be defining it as roughly the top 0.0001% of the world's population by income or the top 0.01% in the US. If you define wealthy as the top 5% of the US by income/wealth - which also seems reasonable - then $1700 on a CPU and $4000 on a system is significant and arguably limited to the wealthy or near wealthy.

$4000 on a system that you use for 5+ years is ~$800/year. Significant, but doable even on a median household income.

 

[The Stilt]

Japanese media slides "6950X @ $1569" ????

http://news.mynavi.jp/news/2016/05/31/397/

Same in Finland.

http://muropaketti.com/artikkelit/testissa-intel-core-i7-6950x-broadwell-e/

24% tax on top of that D:

 

[RussianSensation]

$4000 on a system that you use for 5+ years is ~$800/year. Significant, but doable even on a median household income.

That's not the issue. It will lose to a $310 i7 6700K in gaming for $1400+ more; and the gap will grow significantly when comparing i7 6700K DDR 4000 with 1080 SLI. When sites start testing Skylake + DDR4 4000 + 980Ti SLI / 1080 SLI properly, then we can talk how Broadwell-E is just as fast for games.
http://www.techspot.com/article/1171-ddr4-4000-mhz-performance/

Fact is the irony is the people who buy X99 Titan X SLI/ 1080 SLI / 980Ti SLI just like the idea of pairing the 'fastest' CPU Intel sells in the consumers space since it makes them feel good inside. The irony is that it may be the fastest CPU overall, but it sure isn't the fastest gaming setup you can buy. The i7 6900K at least makes some sense since you can use it as a workstation CPU when not gaming, leaving enough budget to build a 2nd i7 6700K gaming system in the same case. That means i7 6900K + i7 6700K >>> i7 6950X.

Using your defense, Intel should have just priced this for $2499-2999. Over 5 years that's what $1000 a year? Big deal.

You know it's possible to build 2 systems now in the same case? All the people talking a big game how they are price inelastic are not backing it up. A price inelastic PC gamer + productivity user is getting this case:
http://www.phanteks.com/Enthoo-MiniXL-DS.html

Then he is putting in Skylake i7 6700K/Icelake i7 9700K for gaming and 10 core+ Broadwell-E/Skylake-E for workstation/productivity/game streaming use.

So why is it that the people buying $1000-1700 CPUs, who according to you are price inelastic, don't want the best gaming CPU and the best workstation/multi-threaded CPU in the same system? It's been possible for a long time.

True ballers don't ever settle for 2nd best, which is what any BW-E and SKL-E will be for gaming against SKL and Icelake, respectively.

As others mentioned, for real productivity, a workstation Xeon platform with ECC memory is also a superior workstation. All of these are hints that most people buying $1000+ consumer 8-10 core CPUs for X99 don't even use them for much of "productivity" that their income depends on. All it is is a status statement to say you have the most expensive consumer Intel chip.

 

[wilds]

That's not the issue. It will lose to a $310 i7 6700K in gaming...

With DX12/Vulan becoming widely adopted, the opposite may be true in 3-5 years. I know this has been said since FX was released, but we are seeing true gains with more cores in newer titles. The transition to 6 cores from 4 is happening now; albeit slowly. Intel better move 6 cores to mainstream soon.

 

[Mercennarius]

Nehalem/Lynnfield user checking in. This is Intel's way of making up the money it has lost on users like me who are still using 7-year old CPUs because they still get the job done reasonably well. If consumers are going to sit on their old processors for 5+ years because of slowing improvements in process/architecture and because older processors are "good enough" then they are going to make sure they get a reasonable amount of money when they do sell a new one.

My stock clocked Nehalem based (Westmere) setup more than get's the job done IMHO...faster than most new CPU setups people are buying .


Cinebench

3DMark
http://www.3dmark.com/fs/8476596

 

[ValidUsername]

Here's another review - https://youtu.be/HWHrTECTk4c

BTW. I really hoped it would cost 1000$, so we can get that sweet 8-core for much less, but I guess not.

 

[Burpo]

3Ghz (turbo) ES 14 core Xeon E5-2690 v4 Broadwell-EP on ebay $349

 

[NTMBK]

3Ghz (turbo) ES 14 core Xeon E5-2690 v4 Broadwell-EP on ebay $349

Hurrah for stolen property.

 

[Burpo]

Definitely not stolen. It seems the only ones Intel cares about or wants back are the unmarked ones..

"Last Reviewed: 13-Apr-2016
Article ID 000005719
This document addresses questions about Intel® Engineering Sample Processors.

How do I identify Intel® ES processors?
The easiest way to tell if you have an Intel ES Processor is to look at the processor topside markings. If you have a 4 or 5 digit Qspec listed like the one pictured below, you have an engineering sample. A production processor will have a 5 digit sSpec, usually beginning with S, such as SLB9L on the topside markings.

If no ink or laser markings are found, the processor may be an "unmarked" Intel ES Processor. Contact Intel if you are in possession of an unmarked Intel ES Processor."

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/processors/000005719.html?wapkw=intel+confidential

Technically they can request you to return them, but generally don't. If someone has a large quantity of them, that may be a risk for them, but the average ebay buyer who buys one is at little risk of this happening.

 

[exar333]

Definitely not stolen. It seems the only ones Intel cares about are the unmarked ones..

"Last Reviewed: 13-Apr-2016
Article ID 000005719
This document addresses questions about Intel® Engineering Sample Processors.

How do I identify Intel® ES processors?
The easiest way to tell if you have an Intel ES Processor is to look at the processor topside markings. If you have a 4 or 5 digit Qspec listed like the one pictured below, you have an engineering sample. A production processor will have a 5 digit sSpec, usually beginning with S, such as SLB9L on the topside markings.

If no ink or laser markings are found, the processor may be an "unmarked" Intel ES Processor. Contact Intel if you are in possession of an unmarked Intel ES Processor."

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/processors/000005719.html?wapkw=intel+confidential

Technically they can request you to return them, but generally don't. If someone has a large quantity of them, that may be a risk, but the average ebay buyer who buys one is at little risk of this happening.

Intel is very clear. They are the property of Intel and not to be made available to the general public or re-sold. Period.

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/processors/000005719.html

 

[Burpo]

You clearly read different than I ..

"Can I get Intel ES processors from Intel? <-- Answer no..
Due to the pre-production nature of Intel ES Processors, they are generally only loaned by Intel to Intel's Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Original Device Manufacturers (ODMs), and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) for pre-production test and evaluation work under specific contractual terms and conditions that assure the protection of Intel's assets and confidential information.

Intel ES Processors are not made available to the general public by Intel.

Contact your vendor or place of purchase if you have received an Intel ES Processor in place of a production processor."

It says they are GENERALLY only loaned.. It doesn't say they are NOT SOLD!

It says "are not made available to the general public by intel".. It doesn't say that you can't get them from other sources.. This has been going on for decades, and won't change.. Period!

 

[jihe]

There's nothing stolen about these CPU's. They are used in servers from IBM, HP & others, which means intel sold the chips to HP or who ever. Those servers have since been retired or replaced, dis-assembled and the parts sold. You should read (carefully) what intel says about owning an ES processor ..

"ES Processors, they are generally only loaned by Intel..

Intel ES Processors are not made available to the general public by Intel.

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/processors/000005719.html

The ES CPU's can't be purchased from intel, but can be purchased legally from retired servers and scrap dealers. Intel sold the chips and OEM's have since sold them again. Nothing illegal or stolen about it.

No. ES chips are not sold to OEMs. They are loaned from Intel for hw testing. They remain property of Intel. Purchasing ES chips is as illegal as piracy. Are you going get busted by Intel? Most likely not. But that doesn't make it less illegal..

 

[jihe]

You clearly read different than I ..

"Can I get Intel ES processors from Intel? <-- Answer no..
Due to the pre-production nature of Intel ES Processors, they are generally only loaned by Intel to Intel's Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Original Device Manufacturers (ODMs), and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) for pre-production test and evaluation work under specific contractual terms and conditions that assure the protection of Intel's assets and confidential information.

Intel ES Processors are not made available to the general public by Intel.

Contact your vendor or place of purchase if you have received an Intel ES Processor in place of a production processor."

It says they are GENERALLY only loaned.. It doesn't say they are NOT SOLD!

It says "are not made available to the general public by intel".. It doesn't say that you can't get them from other sources.. This has been going on for decades, and won't change.. Period!

I'm sure we are reading it differently from you, in that Intel plainly stated, and you chose to ignore:

Intel ES Processors are not for sale or re-sale.

 

[Burpo]

I know for a fact intel sell ES chips in servers to HP & others.. Once HP sells those complete units, recyclers are free to do with those parts as they see fit, LEGALLY. If intel wants those CPU's back? Courts may not decide in their favor. I'm done with this.. Sorry for thread de-rail.. Do as you please & I will do likewise.

 

[exar333]

I know for a fact intel sell ES chips in servers to HP & others.. Once HP sells those complete units, recyclers are free to do with those parts as they see fit, LEGALLY. If intel wants those CPU's back? Courts may not decide in their favor. I'm done with this.. Sorry for thread de-rail.. Do as you please & I will do likewise.

Quote: 'Intel ES Processors are the sole property of Intel.'

It is generally not legal, anywhere, to sell someone's else property without their express permission. That is called theft.

Back on-topic...

 

[Burpo]

Read it however you want, but these 19 vendors aren't having any problems/issues getting rid of Broadwell-E stock.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk....TRC0.H0.TRS0&_nkw=v4+Broadwell-EP&_sacat=164

If it were "illegal" as you guys say.. Why wouldn't intel notify ebay & have them pulled? This has been going on for decades.
Seems a company as large as intel would have a REAL legal disclaimer concerning this & not some half ass page with vague wording & gaping loop holes. The ONLY ones they are requesting you notify intel about are the unmarked ones.

 

[SexyK]

$1,599.99 at Microcenter. Deal of the century.

 

[Arachnotronic]

If this CPU were $1k I would probably have bought one today. At $1700+ it's just bonkers.

 

[LTC8K6]

I'm sure lots of stolen/shady/fake/illegal stuff is sold on Ebay.

That doesn't change anything about it being wrong.

 

[jhu]

Read it however you want, but these 19 vendors aren't having any problems/issues getting rid of Broadwell-E stock.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk....TRC0.H0.TRS0&_nkw=v4+Broadwell-EP&_sacat=164

If it were "illegal" as you guys say.. Why wouldn't intel notify ebay & have them pulled? This has been going on for decades.
Seems a company as large as intel would have a REAL legal disclaimer concerning this & not some half ass page with vague wording & gaping loop holes. The ONLY ones they are requesting you notify intel about are the unmarked ones.

Here you go. But these are just the ones you hear about.

 

[wilds]

If this CPU were $1k I would probably have bought one today. At $1700+ it's just bonkers.

If the 6950x was 1k, I would be buying the even cheaper 8 core version!

 

[Burpo]

Here you go. But these are just the ones you hear about.

Uhh yeah.. Back in 2010 - 2011, those WERE stolen!
" the four, confirmed to be engineers working for Intel's OEM manufacturers in Taiwan, had been apprehended in the city of Taoyuan.
..conducting a raid on their homes last month, taking 178 sample CPUs &#8211; worth an estimated $82,500&#8212;into police custody.
According to the CIB&#8217;s statement, the suspects admitted to selling more than 500 Intel engineering sample CPUs since 2009. "

 

[jhu]

Uhh yeah.. Back in 2010 - 2011, those WERE stolen!
" the four, confirmed to be engineers working for Intel's OEM manufacturers in Taiwan, had been apprehended in the city of Taoyuan.
..

Now you're getting it. How else would these ES samples be out in the wild otherwise? Intel doesn't sell them. They loan them out to OEMs so they can test their motherboards and other hardware.

Intel either wants them back or destroyed. OEM says they'll destroy them. Employee notices this and says, "I'll destroy these!" then takes them home and sells on eBay. Ergo theft, unless there's another scenario that you can give whereby an ES chip reaches eBay that does not constitute theft.