[Tom's Hardware] Sandy Bridge-E and X79 Platform Preview

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

It's always interesting to get hands-on time with unreleased hardware. We were recently able to benchmark Intel's upcoming Core i7-3960X CPU, comparing it to Core i7-990X, Core i7-2600K, and AMD's Phenom II X6.

Source

Single-threaded performance:

Multi-threaded performance:

About what you'd expect, really. Overall around 10-15% faster than the Core i7-990X, same as the Core i7-2600K in single-threaded, and 25-40% faster in multi-threaded.

The Core i7-3930K looks to be the only CPU that's worth looking at for enthusiasts. It's only clocked 100MHz lower than the 3960X, and going from 15MB to 12MB of L3 cache should not result in any performance deficit. It also costs 67% less at ~$600 vs $1000.

Also, it looks like PCIe 3.0 is a no-go.

 

[ElFenix]

The Core i7-3930K looks to be the only CPU that's worth looking at for enthusiasts. It's only clocked 100MHz lower than the 3960X, and going from 15MB to 12MB of L3 cache should not result in any performance deficit.

either way its $$$ and probably won't be any faster in games than a 2600k for 4 years, at which point both will be obsolete.

 

[dma0991]

Assuming that a single SB core is equivalent to a single SB-E core, the 100Mhz difference in base clock speed is the cause for the 3 second delay. Then again the Core i7 3960X has a turbo frequency that is also 100Mhz higher than the Core i7 2600K so I don't know why the Core i7 3960X would have slightly slower results than the Core i7 2600K.

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

Assuming that a single SB core is equivalent to a single SB-E core, the 100Mhz difference in base clock speed is the cause for the 3 second delay. Then again the Core i7 3960X has a turbo frequency that is also 100Mhz higher than the Core i7 2600K so I don't know why the Core i7 3960X would have slightly slower results than the Core i7 2600K.

In the later part of the review they test with Turbo Boost on. I've updated the OP and some info to reflect that so there's no confusion.

 

[Absolution75]

Quad channel DDR3 will be really nice for DIY servers. This thing is going to cost a fortune though.

 

[blackened23]

Quad channel DDR3 will be really nice for DIY servers. This thing is going to cost a fortune though.

Definitely more attractive than current "E" processors. Intel will have sb-e's at the 300 and 600$ pricepoints.

 

[Rifter]

Lack of PCI 3 is a bad thing. Its not really going to hurt gamers or desktop users but with quad channel ram and the almost doubling of memory bandwidth its going to hurt servers running multiple raid cards with SSD's and 10gig ethernet cards. Unless they are just leaving it out of desktop chips and xeons will still push PCI 3.

 

[blackened23]

I don't think any current cards would necessarily take advantage of pci-e3 anyway.

 

[Edrick]

Highly disappointed they really nerfed the X79 platform this way. Now it is just a Z68 MB with a larger socket. I hope the prices on these watered down MBs will reflect the features included (or not included in this case).

 

[Arachnotronic]

Mmm, saw this earlier. Interesting that Intel is trying to steal AMD's thunder today...

 

[RussianSensation]

Mmm, saw this earlier. Interesting that Intel is trying to steal AMD's thunder today...

http://cpuforever.com/Thread-AMD-FX-Series-Processors-Up-For-Pre-Order

Based on BD positioning, hinted pricing, and all the information we know thus far, SB-E does not compete with BD and was never intended to be.

 

[Arachnotronic]

I'm pretty sure the SNB-E architecture will be going head-to-head against Bulldozer in the server arena.

Desktop arena? Yeah, Intel has that won even with the regular SNB chips. Speaking of which...since SNB-E isn't much faster than Gulftown, I wonder if I can pick up a 980x for cheap...

 

[Idontcare]

Mmm, saw this earlier. Interesting that Intel is trying to steal AMD's thunder today...

Yes, because the 12 people who are waiting on pin's and needles to buy a $1000 SB-E chip are going to relish in today's thunder-stealing shenanigans while the millions of customers with $150 in their pocket to put towards an unlocked llano kit are going to be wholely dismayed at AMD's lackings in the thunder dept

In other news...AMD has recently stolen Via's thunder, the global response was "Via? who?".

 

[Arachnotronic]

Well, my point is that AMD is supposed to be making a huge announcement today? Whatever it is, its thunder will have been stolen by this awesome preview of SNB-E

Also, like I said, these EE chips are just server chips in disguise. It'll be interesting to see 6/8 core SNB-E go up against 12/16 core Bulldozer.

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

Yes, because the 12 people who are waiting on pin's and needles to buy a $1000 SB-E chip are going to relish in today's thunder-stealing shenanigans while the millions of customers with $150 in their pocket to put towards an unlocked llano kit are going to be wholely dismayed at AMD's lackings in the thunder dept

In other news...AMD has recently stolen Via's thunder, the global response was "Via? who?".

Very true. At the same time, if Bulldozer is only a meager or no IPC increase from Llano, what's the incentive to buy the FX-4170 over the A8-3870 and go 990X over A75?

I'm thinking AMD is still far behind Intel when it comes to single-threaded performance, and it will take the FX-8150 to surpass the i7-2700K in multi-threaded. If not, why would they price their new CPUs so cheap while aiming for such high frequencies? John also underplayed the importance of IPC some days ago. Yes, it's not the ultimate and most important thing in the world, but the CPU still needs to have a solid baseline, which to most of us would be Nehalem-level IPC. If it's comparable to K10.5 in this, it simply won't take off.

If anything, this new preview and the pre-order pricing firmly plants the fact that Bulldozer will not compete with Sandy Bridge-E, which is something we knew for the most part anyway.

 

[Edrick]

Whatever it is, its thunder will have been stolen by this awesome preview of SNB-E

Didn't realize AMD had any thunder left to steal.....

Which is too bad and I believe this is the reason Intel is able to put out "nerfed" SB-E chipsets and delay IB. Lack of competition only hurts the consumers.

 

[Edrick]

http://cpuforever.com/Thread-AMD-FX-...-For-Pre-Order

So people can now pre-order the CPU without ever seeing an official benchmark on it? Am I the only one who finds this strange?

 

[Arachnotronic]

It's called livin' on the edge, Edrick! Buying a CPU without knowing how it'll perform adds a real enthusiast's kick to it all!

 

[RussianSensation]

It's called livin' on the edge, Edrick! Buying a CPU without knowing how it'll perform adds a real enthusiast's kick to it all!

Enthusiasts still have thinking abilities, no? Why would you buy a CPU without any idea of its power consumption, overclocking abilities, or performance? That spells fanboi, not enthusiast.

 

[AdamK47]

I'm pretty sure the SNB-E architecture will be going head-to-head against Bulldozer in the server arena.

Desktop arena? Yeah, Intel has that won even with the regular SNB chips. Speaking of which...since SNB-E isn't much faster than Gulftown, I wonder if I can pick up a 980x for cheap...

My 980X will be in FS/T as soon as I get a 3960X and X79 motherboard. I'll be sure to offer a good deal to AnandTech members.

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

Enthusiasts still have thinking abilities, no? Why would you buy a CPU without any idea of its power consumption, overclocking abilities, or performance? That spells fanboi, not enthusiast.

Probably because they bought a 990X or 990FX motherboard so now they're tied. They bought the motherboard without knowing how well the CPU that would go with it would perform, so they just figure "what the hell".

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

My 980X will be in FS/T as soon as I get a 3960X and X79 motherboard. I'll be sure to offer a good deal to AnandTech members.

:hmm:

Why would you buy the 3960X over the 3930K when they're both binned the same? The only difference is that the 3930K had some unneeded L3 cache disabled and a meager 100MHz difference, probably to serve as an excuse to jack up the price 67%.

 

[Idontcare]

So people can now pre-order the CPU without ever seeing an official benchmark on it? Am I the only one who finds this strange?

They do similar with games.

 

[Arkadrel]

Didn't realize AMD had any thunder left to steal.....

Which is too bad and I believe this is the reason Intel is able to put out "nerfed" SB-E chipsets and delay IB. Lack of competition only hurts the consumers.

^this,

but I think it has to do with AMD falling to far behinde.
AMD simply dont earn the $ to compete.

But imagine if they collaps? what happends then to competition? to enovation? to prices? If all you have is Intel?

Thats the main reason Im so pro AMD, I would hate to see a world, where the only choice you had was Intel.

 

[Arachnotronic]

Enthusiasts still have thinking abilities, no? Why would you buy a CPU without any idea of its power consumption, overclocking abilities, or performance? That spells fanboi, not enthusiast.

My post was meant in complete jest!