Complete list of Sandy Bridge processors leaked

[Idontcare]

Two things I'm wondering about:

#1. If you overclock the CPU will you effectively be downclocking the GPU ?
This might seem a bit odd, but as far as I can tell it might be the case. As we know all parts of the processor share the same baseclock, so overclocking the CPU will have to be done by increasing the multiplier, which won't affect the GPU. However, if you overclock the CPU you will be operating above the TDP most of the time, which means the GPU turbo won't be able to activate, thus effectively slowing down your GPU.

#2. Can you overclock in steps smaller than 100MHz ?
The GPU shares the 100MHz baseclock with the CPU, yet it uses speeds that aren't divisible by 100MHz, which means it appears to have a multiplier that isn't a whole number. If the same holds true for the CPU it might be possible to overclock in steps smaller than 100MHz, since you might be able to increase the multiplier in steps of 0.5 or even 0.1

For all we know you can overclock the GPU same as the CPU, separate multiplier, separate Vcc.

 

[IntelUser2000]

Yeah I was a bit behind in the thread...

Do you have a link to the 2720QM that was demoed with cinebench?

http://translate.google.ca/translat...el+Sandy+Bridge+Cinebench&start=60&hl=en&sa=N

 

[khon]

For all we know you can overclock the GPU same as the CPU, separate multiplier, separate Vcc.

That may well be the case, but I was considering the case where you only overclock the CPU, which I think will be the most common. Afterall overclocking the GPU would add to the thermal load, which would probably reduce the amount you could overclock the CPU by.

 

[Acanthus]

The "K" series are just like the "K" series today. Unlimited ratios. The slide says 57 bins but the slide before that says there's no limit, so I'm understanding it as "57 bins above stock". It's not really "unlimited" as they say but the potential to reach 8GHz is good enough, no? Think of it, why would they give you an option to clock it at 100MHz anyway? They had similar wording for the earlier Extreme Editions.

The non "K" series are the ones that's called "Partially Unlocked". Those are the ones that do "few bins above Turbo". It doesn't look like there will be any "Full unlocked versions".

On some unrelated topic, there are rumors that the mobile version of Sandy Bridge will work with the discrete GPU to enable additional monitor support.

58 bins could mean a whole lot of things.

partially unlocked indicates some kind of limiting is taking place.

 

[IntelUser2000]

partially unlocked indicates some kind of limiting is taking place.

Yea, that's the non K chip. The overclock limitation is Turbo bin plus some additional bins.

There's nothing complex you know. Unlocked means unlocked.

 

[Fjodor2001]

Has Intel indicated why they have decided to block some of the SB CPUs from being overclocked? If not, what possible reasons do you guess could there be?

 

[Edrick]

That may well be the case, but I was considering the case where you only overclock the CPU, which I think will be the most common. Afterall overclocking the GPU would add to the thermal load, which would probably reduce the amount you could overclock the CPU by.

Ok, then if your theory is correct, the opposite will hold true as well. If someone is using a discrete graphics solution, then can "underclock" the GPU to save thermal load for the CPU to overclock even more. And since a lot of people who push overclocking limits do not use onboard graphics, this may be a good thing.

 

[khon]

Has Intel indicated why they have decided to block some of the SB CPUs from being overclocked? If not, what possible reasons do you guess could there be?

It was done for a fairly simple reason: Using one common baseclock for all components makes for a simpler design, with fewer components and thus lower costs.
The downside is that you can't then alter the baseclock to overclock your CPU, but that was never the goal.

 

[khon]

Ok, then if your theory is correct, the opposite will hold true as well. If someone is using a discrete graphics solution, then can "underclock" the GPU to save thermal load for the CPU to overclock even more. And since a lot of people who push overclocking limits do not use onboard graphics, this may be a good thing.

Yeah I would think so. If you can go as far as to turn of the GPU entirely, I'm sure a lot of people will do so.

 

[Edrick]

Has Intel indicated why they have decided to block some of the SB CPUs from being overclocked? If not, what possible reasons do you guess could there be?

Intel sells most of their mainstream chips to companies like Dell and HP. And since these companies do not allow overclocking on their motherboards, and if Intel saves a little money by locking the clocks on certain SKUs, why not?

I like the idea of having K series chips with an unlocked multiplier. Before the K series, we had to pay for the Extreme editions in order to get unlocked multipliers.

 

[Acanthus]

Yea, that's the non K chip. The overclock limitation is Turbo bin plus some additional bins.

There's nothing complex you know. Unlocked means unlocked.

if that is the case, are there chips that dont have turbo?

because that would be "fully locked"

There is complexity... because youre saying there are 2 states of locks when intel is clearly saying there will be 3.

 

[extra]

Prices are sure nice. Very competitive! God I can't wait to see how the GPU is! I trust Aigo when he says that this platform isn't for "us" though and that we want 2011.

 

[IntelUser2000]

Has Intel indicated why they have decided to block some of the SB CPUs from being overclocked? If not, what possible reasons do you guess could there be?

Nope.

So many things that might turn out to be pure speculations here.
-Are we 100 percent sure the original source will turn out to be correct regarding overclocking of Sandy Bridge architecture processors?
-Are we 100 percent sure even if the original source is right ATM Intel won't change plans?
-Are we 100 percent sure no Turbo = 0 overclocking?

 

[Shmee]

hmm, from the looks of this, sandy bridge is not very exciting. But then I dont know anything about the later high end desktop platform. Still, would it be reasonable to expect better performance from high end SB over a 980x clocked at 4.3? Idk, and from the looks of things, kinda doubt it. I think I will pass. Ill stay x58 for a while.

 

[Kakkoii]

Why no 6-cores? Intel teases us with the two 32nm 6-core Gulftowns that are out, but prices both of them to the extreme, and supposedly has no plan on releasing cheaper versions, unlike the rest of their series..

Is Intel going to be making only processors with integrated GPU's from now on on the high-end or something? Or will there be a series released alongside Sandy Bridge that is sans-GPU? Because pretty much anyone buying high end parts isn't interested in using Intel's piddly GPU's, and will surely have a graphics card added in. Making it a complete waste of the CPU's silicon space that could have been used for more performance.

 

[bryanW1995]

well, technically this is amd's fault. amd can't even compete with intel's 4 core EE cpus right now, so why should intel drop on the price on the hex cores? hopefully bulldozer will be more competitive.

 

[Kakkoii]

well, technically this is amd's fault. amd can't even compete with intel's 4 core EE cpus right now, so why should intel drop on the price on the hex cores? hopefully bulldozer will be more competitive.

Yeah I realize that, it just makes me sad. But I wouldn't say drop the price, just bring out lower priced versions like they did with the i7 series. There wasn't any different between the 920 and 940 except for clock lol. Yet the prices were vastly different. As with the extreme for the most part.

Plus I think it would be a good business decision, because they would be putting even more pressure on their competitor, and gaining even more market share from having some fairly priced 6-core CPU's out to replace the current i7's.

 

[ydnas7]

i am surprised for the amount of cache that is disabled. unless its not really disabled....

i'm slightly surprised at the amount of 4c 4t sandy bridge, i guess they are the new celeron/pentium of the sandybridge 4 core line. (ie the bottom binned products, their clocks are pretty good though)

 

[bryanW1995]

Yeah I realize that, it just makes me sad. But I wouldn't say drop the price, just bring out lower priced versions like they did with the i7 series. There wasn't any different between the 920 and 940 except for clock lol. Yet the prices were vastly different. As with the extreme for the most part.

Plus I think it would be a good business decision, because they would be putting even more pressure on their competitor, and gaining even more market share from having some fairly priced 6-core CPU's out to replace the current i7's.

remember that q6600 was $850 or so when it was released. after about 6 mos or so it dropped to $500, then finally down to $300 or so after nearly a year. that probably won't happen here, however, since the high end sandy bridge will be out by the time they would be ready to really start dropping prices. we probably won't see a reasonably-priced SB until bulldozer comes out.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

What are the plans for X58? Anymore processor releases, or just speed-bumps like 920 to 930? And the same for 1156? Will there be no more "new" processors for these sockets? Sources? Or do we just not know yet?

 

[Bladen]

Is it just me, or do those pictures look like they were partially cut and pasted in MS paint?

The fabricator needs more skills.

 

[nyker96]

looks like it's true the celeron brand is gone!