Intel Core i7-3960X (ES) Sandy Bridge-E Overclocked to 5.5 GHz

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

The only difference in cost will be MB costs. And I expect some lower end level x79 boards to be cheaper than high end z68 boards. (RAM will be the same price).

I think X79 has more in common with P67 than Z68, truth be told.

I don't like Z68. It introduces some (for me) useless features like IRST and Lucid Virtu. The only thing I like about it is QuickSync, but that's not a deal-maker. I hate the fact that you almost always lose one or two columns of back panel I/O, and most of all I hate the price. There's a $30-40 markup over P67 usually.

P67 feels more like a high-end platform than Z68 to me since it focuses more on dedicated components.

 

[lol123]

ALL top level Xeon Workstation processors are typically unlocked as well.

Are you sure about that? I remember reading that the X5680 had a locked multiplier but that Intel was considering unlocking it. Does that they mean finally did?

 

[aigomorla]

Are you sure about that? I remember reading that the X5680 had a locked multiplier but that Intel was considering unlocking it. Does that they mean finally did?

90% sure!

W3570
W3580
W3590
W5570
W5580

all had unlocked multi's if it was a RETAIL cpu.

And yes i benched ALL of them. 🙂
This is why i was one of the most hated people on this forum.

 

[lol123]

90% sure!

W3570
W3580
W3590
W5570
W5580

all had unlocked multi's if it was a RETAIL cpu.

And yes i benched ALL of them. 🙂
This is why i was one of the most hated people on this forum.

Lmao. I'm sure you were. 😀

But the W55xx are Nehalem-EPs right? Is there any chance that those CPUs were unlocked while the Gulftowns were not? Do you have any experience of overclocking the Gulftown Xeons, or know someone who does who would know if the multiplier was unlocked?

 

[aigomorla]

Lmao. I'm sure you were. 😀

But the W55xx are Nehalem-EPs right? Is there any chance that those CPUs were unlocked while the Gulftowns were not? Do you have any experience of overclocking the Gulftown Xeons, or know someone who does who would know if the multiplier was unlocked?

what cpu's do you think the SR-2 takes to get the multi unlocked? :whiste:

Xeons only have 2 x QPI enabled, while the regular i7's have 1 x qpi preventing them from using it in 2 x qpi boards aka... sr-2 and intel dual cpu boards.
Of course the unlocked multi is only valid on the SR-2.

However u can use 2xqpi cpu's in 1 x qpi boards... and i have tried, and they work.