Ivy Bridge vs. Sandy Bridge: What are the odds of getting the better chip?

[Quantos]

I'm faced as many by the choice of IB vs. SB, and as time goes by it seems the decision is only going to be harder to make. There will definitely be some amount of luck involved; regardless of what I buy, I could end up with a good or a bad chip.

Now, of course keeping in mind that the reviews for IB aren't really out yet, it seems like the expectation on air is somewhere around 4.6Ghz. In order to equate this, a SB has to do... around 5Ghz? Now, from what I can tell, when you buy a SB, you have really no guarantee the chip is even capable of doing that. What is the odds of actually getting a SB chip capable of reaching 5Ghz? Also, how much does this chance increase if you get a 2700k instead of a 2600k (which I assume is binned)?

I'm probably going to wait for the IB reviews anyway, but I'd just like to know what you guys think. Of course there's a missing element to the equation, which is that we don't know what's the average frequency IB is actually expected to reach. The 4.6Ghz is from a few reviews and previews, so I can't call that a certain figure.

 

[LagunaX]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2240017

Start from post 13 and onwards =)

 

[Quantos]

Thanks, good read.

Well, the 2500k/2600k being bad chips are the moment really mean IB should be better. What about the 2700k, however? Is all the good silicon going into making those instead of 2600k?

Anyway, I'm really going to hang on until IB is reviewed, it really looks like it's at least as good as SB, depending on luck. I'll see how the chips are looking for IB as well, perhaps the first batch was just not very good.

 

[greenhawk]

if you really want a good chip, look around the forsale sections and offer someone money for they good chip. It will cost a bit but then you will not have to guess or play pot luck.

 

[Absolute0]

I think Ivy Bridge will be the safer buy. Since 4.6 Ghz IB is roughly equivalent to 5 Ghz SB, and 4.6 Ghz is about average for an IB and 5 Ghz is significantly above average for a SB, the IB will be consistently faster both before and after overclocking.

 

[Olikan]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2240017

Start from post 13 and onwards =)

i would buy a sandy...but...wait for ivy bridge lunch...

when sandy bridge get a price drop, buy a sandy :biggrin:

 

[Don Karnage]

Ivy Bridge will top out around 4.5-4.6Ghz on stock volts. I don't see a point in buying a 219.99 2500K when a 219.99 3570K will be out in 2 weeks

 

[Ferzerp]

I don't really think that anyone can answer the question posed here as the processor hasn't been released yet.

Wait 2 or 3 months and we'll have an answer for you.

 

[Absolute0]

I don't really think that anyone can answer the question posed here as the processor hasn't been released yet.

Wait 2 or 3 months and we'll have an answer for you.

2 or 3 months? it comes out on Monday

 

[Puppies04]

Now, of course keeping in mind that the reviews for IB aren't really out yet

You answered your own question. Unfortunatly there just isn't the data out there for IB and TBH you would be hard pushed to do much more than guess at SB overclocking statistics.

 

[Don Karnage]

2 or 3 months? it comes out on Monday

All the sites i've seen are saying the "30th"

 

[Ferzerp]

2 or 3 months? it comes out on Monday

But he asked for odds which requires a large sample set That won't be available immediately.

 

[Absolute0]

I have been reading that the launch date was pushed to the 23rd and that the launch prices were cut slightly

We already have a big enough sample set to get an idea for how IB overclocks. Within 1 week of retail launch, if you do the work to look through a few different forums, you could probably get over a hundred data points no problem.

Not too long we will have "official Ivy Bridge overclocking results" threads popping up at every OC forum

 

[Puppies04]

We already have a big enough sample set to get an idea for how IB overclocks. Within 1 week of retail launch, if you do the work to look through a few different forums, you could probably get over a hundred data points no problem.

A hundred data points from how many batches of chips?

 

[LoneNinja]

I'd rather go Ivy even if it won't clock as high as Sandy, seems to have slightly higher IPC and lower power draw any way.

 

[Tempered81]

I think Ivy Bridge will be the safer buy. Since 4.6 Ghz IB is roughly equivalent to 5 Ghz SB, and 4.6 Ghz is about average for an IB and 5 Ghz is significantly above average for a SB, the IB will be consistently faster both before and after overclocking.

Sure, over a year later, 30% more expensive ~1% performance difference. Definitely safer.

 

[Sunburn74]

Honestly I enjoy a good overclock as much as the next guy, but I'm really having a hard time putting all that extra power to use these days. I would go IVY for the power savings but not so much for increased performance.

 

[Absolute0]

Sure, over a year later, 30% more expensive ~1% performance difference. Definitely safer.

how is the time relevant... we are talking about what to buy right now... 2500K is 220$, I believe 3570K is supposed to launch at about the same price. Whats the 30%? Are they cutting the price down on the 2500K?

Definitely more than 1% performance difference, non overclocked... Even when overclocked, IB should still have a lead. And it's PCI-express 3.0 and better integrated GPU blah blah blah... Just better...

IB not so much better that you should pass up a good deal on SB. SB is awesome. But I need to build a new computer and I am waiting for IB to build it. If I can get a 3770K at 4.7 Ghz or so, should be better than anything I'd be able to get out of SB.

 

[Tempered81]

Yeah you might hit 4.7 on 3770K no doubt, but a $199 2600K at 5.1 would be equal or faster. Also remember you could have had this performance 15 months ago from a 2600K for the same price the 3770K will be next week.

"IB should still have a lead"

"should" is the key-word there mate

 

[Don Karnage]

Yeah you might hit 4.7 on 3770K no doubt, but a $199 2600K at 5.1 would be equal or faster. Also remember you could have had this performance 15 months ago from a 2600K for the same price the 3770K will be next week.

"IB should still have a lead"

"should" is the key-word there mate

How many 2500K's do we have on the board running 5.1Ghz?

 

[Olikan]

sooo... at best, we get 10% performance and 20W less :|

.....GO PREMIUMS!

 

[Tempered81]

How many 2500K's do we have on the board running 5.1Ghz?

Here at AT was posted a 5.3ghz 2500k. You keep insisting for examples of 5ghz Sandy Bridges. Just head over to OCN or XS. OCN has a 210 page thread titled "The 5ghz Sandy Club" which was linked for you in the other thread here. Here's the link: http://www.overclock.net/t/914262/official-the-sandy-bridge-5ghz-club/2110

Start at page 200 and read the last 5 or 10 pages for about a dozen examples of air-cooled Sandies, and 3 times as many water-cooled chips.

 

[notty22]

And a better IGP, a PRO, that some cpu's is it's only claim to fame.

 

[Absolute0]

Yeah you might hit 4.7 on 3770K no doubt, but a $199 2600K at 5.1 would be equal or faster. Also remember you could have had this performance 15 months ago from a 2600K for the same price the 3770K will be next week.

"IB should still have a lead"

"should" is the key-word there mate

Better chance of 4.7 on an IB than 5.1 on a SB that is for damn sure.

And the microcenter deal, that's cool and all, but I live 80 minutes from a Microcenter and they sold out within 1 day of that sale, these limited outrageous sales don't really apply to overarching debates on performance vs. price.

Lots of SB can do 5+ Ghz but the people posting in these threads are usually using high volts, great than you would want to run 24/7, with expensive watercooling and usually questionable ambient temps. If I open up the window and cool the room to 60F I can prime my 2500K at 5.1 Ghz no problem! Doesn't mean sh1t for 24/7 use. Anyone with a decent Sandy can open the window, pop off the side of their case, go to 1.45-1.50v and run a few hours of prime and post in one of these 5+ Ghz SB threads.

So you see all these people claiming 5.1 Ghz Sandies, and no one running that 24/7.

Obviously we are taking about 24/7.


edit: this debate seems very polarizing. I want to get it out there that I love SB! I love my SB too and going 2500K/2600K is a great route cuz IB is definitely disappointing. I still think that IB offers a lot of merit however, and that the IPC increase is strong enough to make it just barely edge out FTW if you are debating between the two and assuming you will be able to find them at comparable prices.
As I mentioned Im making a new PC for my research lab (was going to go multicore AMD but decided to wait, spend more $$ and get something GOOD). I can go 2600K or 3770K. The microcenter deal would have rocked but I couldn't make it. And according to LagunaX and a few others, a lot of the newer Sandies have been clocking poorly anyway. If I can find them for comparable price, I'm definitely getting the 3770K. It's just better in too many different ways.

Again I state, if you doubt the IPC increase, read the Anandtech Preview of the 3770K again.

 

[fstime]

I don't think 5.0 ghz for SB is as realistic as people make it out to be using conventional methods (cooling, volts), 4.5 ghz is probably the best number you are guaranteed to get.

Plus, this is the internet. A lot of BSers here who would post unstable speeds or the non-24/7 speed.