Talk me into X79

[bunnyfubbles]

What? I had a Xeon E5-2609 and had no problem overclocking it, albeit mildly. Granted, it's no "K" chip but Xeons can be OC'ed just like a 3820 could I'd guess. Otherwise, I agree. ECC has no real benefit and the extra cost of a Xeon isn't really worth it.

Nope, I probably should have specified, but the Xeons that matter here (ie the 8 core chips for s2011) can't be overclocked last I checked, Intel locked them down pretty hard.

IIRC the BCLK straps that make the 3820 a venerable overclocker can't be used on these SB-EP Xeons, and thus we're stuck with adding a few MHz to the base 100.

 

[Gillbot]

Nope, I probably should have specified, but the Xeons that matter here (ie the 8 core chips for s2011) can't be overclocked last I checked, Intel locked them down pretty hard.

IIRC the BCLK straps that make the 3820 a venerable overclocker can't be used on these SB-EP Xeons, and thus we're stuck with adding a few MHz to the base 100.

I'm waiting for more retail pieces in the market before I draw conclusions. Either way, for me a lower clocked 8 or 10 core with HT on LGA2011 is still better than a high clocked 4 core with HT on LGA1155.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

I'm waiting for more retail pieces in the market before I draw conclusions. Either way, for me a lower clocked 8 or 10 core with HT on LGA2011 is still better than a high clocked 4 core with HT on LGA1155.

No doubt, but for most enthusiasts (who have no need for any of the Xeon specific features) a heavily overclocked SB-E will trounce fastest 8 core Xeon, which is on heavy lockdown, so there's little reason to even entertain the idea. Of which if these SB-EP Xeons could be overclocked via BCLK like past ones I know there would be many enthusiasts, myself included, who would be all over them. But for now, unfortunately, the fastest single processor is a heavily overclocked SB-E i7, still stuck with 6 cores.

 

[moonbogg]

I still think its crazy that BF3 actually has performance increases all the way up to 8 threads and then finally levels off. If games start to really use any more than that, such as may be the case with games like crysis 3 and a few others, then we might see more gaming enthusiasts with ivy-e chips than Haswell (maybe). Imagine though if ivy-e has a nice soldering job under the heat spreader? What would it be like to have a 4.8ghz 6 core ivy? I say it would be pretty decent and that might have to be the case in order for me to go that way instead of Haswell. If they gimp that ivy with bubble gum under the heat spreader again then you can count this guy out. I'll be going back to quads because a significantly faster quad will overcome any moderate advantage that a highly threaded game would see from a 6 core at this stage in the game.
When developers flip the switch on hex cores like they did with quads, starting with games like Bad Company 2, then 6 cores will be the only way to fly. But right now a newer tech quad could have the edge on an older hex core if a game is only moderately made to take advantage of 6 cores, thats if longevity isn't a priority.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

from what I've read, Intel only moved away from solder with Ivy because they could get away with it as TDP levels were low enough. That wouldn't be the case with Ivy-E. And the current rumor is that even mainstream Haswell is going back to solder.

 

[tweakboy]

I still think its crazy that BF3 actually has performance increases all the way up to 8 threads and then finally levels off. If games start to really use any more than that, such as may be the case with games like crysis 3 and a few others, then we might see more gaming enthusiasts with ivy-e chips than Haswell (maybe). Imagine though if ivy-e has a nice soldering job under the heat spreader? What would it be like to have a 4.8ghz 6 core ivy? I say it would be pretty decent and that might have to be the case in order for me to go that way instead of Haswell. If they gimp that ivy with bubble gum under the heat spreader again then you can count this guy out. I'll be going back to quads because a significantly faster quad will overcome any moderate advantage that a highly threaded game would see from a 6 core at this stage in the game.
When developers flip the switch on hex cores like they did with quads, starting with games like Bad Company 2, then 6 cores will be the only way to fly. But right now a newer tech quad could have the edge on an older hex core if a game is only moderately made to take advantage of 6 cores, thats if longevity isn't a priority.

Nicely said. Im going to pull the trigger on Ivy Bridge E in Q3 2013. 12 threaded monster I bet I can take that chip to 5Ghz ,,,,, if you dont need much voltage from what I have seen.

 

[tweakboy]

I opted not to buy a hexacore cuz then it would be mean nothing to wait and get a hexacore Ivy E chip. You already have a 6 core 12 thread powerhouse.....so ya my present to me is Ive E , Ill even wait until price drops a little.... buy the 600 dollar chip... gl

 

[SunnyD]

I just upgraded (literally 2 days ago) to an i7-3820 from an i7-870S. For me, it's honestly not much of a performance upgrade in terms of feel (I'm not one of those people that will notice a difference between 40FPS and 140FPS in a game).

What I am liking, despite having an 870S previously, are the really freaking low temps. I'm talking 25C idle and 50C load temps. That, and I wanted to upgrade my platform so that I can upgrade my CPU later if I feel the need. It was worth it.

The only thing I don't like is the platform. Having had an X58 platform before, Intel tends to disappoint with their enthusiast platforms by not keeping them up to date. Consumer chipsets come and go like night and day, new features and everything. But the enthusiast platforms never get updated until a whole new socket comes out.

 

[Gillbot]

I just upgraded (literally 2 days ago) to an i7-3820 from an i7-870S. For me, it's honestly not much of a performance upgrade in terms of feel (I'm not one of those people that will notice a difference between 40FPS and 140FPS in a game).

What I am liking, despite having an 870S previously, are the really freaking low temps. I'm talking 25C idle and 50C load temps. That, and I wanted to upgrade my platform so that I can upgrade my CPU later if I feel the need. It was worth it.

The only thing I don't like is the platform. Having had an X58 platform before, Intel tends to disappoint with their enthusiast platforms by not keeping them up to date. Consumer chipsets come and go like night and day, new features and everything. But the enthusiast platforms never get updated until a whole new socket comes out.

I'm hoping they hold on to LGA2011 enough to get us decent 8 or 10 core parts with HT. :biggrin:

 

[tweakboy]

Nope, I probably should have specified, but the Xeons that matter here (ie the 8 core chips for s2011) can't be overclocked last I checked, Intel locked them down pretty hard.

IIRC the BCLK straps that make the 3820 a venerable overclocker can't be used on these SB-EP Xeons, and thus we're stuck with adding a few MHz to the base 100.

Nicei rig bunnyfubbles.. Can I ask what CPU voltage you have with that OC ?

 

[Grooveriding]

I thought I read that IB-E is confirmed not to be coming in an eight core ? Was that misinformation ?

 

[Gillbot]

I thought I read that IB-E is confirmed not to be coming in an eight core ? Was that misinformation ?

Google and speculation disagree.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Intel-Ivy-Bridge-E-EP-CPUs-Will-Have-Up-to-12-Cores-295703.shtml

http://www.cpu-world.com/news_2012/2012110102_Features_of_Ivy_Bridge-E_processors.html

http://vr-zone.com/articles/exclusi...-e-ep-die-to-have-12-cores-not-10-/17314.html

 

[bunnyfubbles]

I thought I read that IB-E is confirmed not to be coming in an eight core ? Was that misinformation ?

IIRC that was never confirmed, it was just rumor.