Z68 vs P67 - What's the advantage?

[vpr]

About to build a new i5-2500k system is it worth waiting for Z68? What advantages does it hold over the P67 boards?

Thanks,
vpr

 

[aphelion02]

1. Integrated graphics support
2. Use of Quicksync for video transcoding
3. SSD Caching

Otherwise, its the same as P67

 

[vpr]

1. Integrated graphics support
2. Use of Quicksync for video transcoding
3. SSD Caching

Otherwise, its the same as P67

1. So if using a GPU this is irrelevant?
2. What does Quicksync do?
3. Do we know what SSD Caching does for us?

 

[wsaenotsock]

afaik all sandy bridge chipsets so far support the integrated on-die graphics options, so that isn't actually a new feature. also SSD caching's purpose is to cache the most read files from your disk drive to your SSD to improve performance. I kind of wonder what the point of that is, since it's probably going to end up caching the OS and applications onto it anyway (which is what most people would put on the SSD to begin with).

one example however could make small SSD's more useful (like the 30GB ones). it would cache the most vital OS files, and the major data chunks of your favorite games.

 

[DesktopMan]

afaik all sandy bridge chipsets so far support the integrated on-die graphics options, so that isn't actually a new feature.

P67 does not support integrated graphics. Also, Z68 will allow you to overclock while using integrated graphics, which is not possible on H67. With the proper software (Lucid) you will be able to use Quick Sync on the integrated GPU at the same time as you use a discrete GPU.

 

[StinkyPinky]

It also has confirmed Ivy Bridge support. I'm not sure if P67 does.

 

[DesktopMan]

It also has confirmed Ivy Bridge support. I'm not sure if P67 does.

Apparently it does: http://www.fudzilla.com/processors/item/21765-ivy-bridge-22nm-works-with-h67-and-p67

 

[Martimus]

Apparently it does: http://www.fudzilla.com/processors/item/21765-ivy-bridge-22nm-works-with-h67-and-p67

Quoting Fudzilla as proof does not give me ANY confidence that p67 will support Ivy Bridge.

I honestly think Fuado ate paintchips as a child. The man seems to have some mental disabilities.

 

[cantholdanymore]

This is z68
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/z68-express-lucidlogix-virtu-ssd-caching,2888.html

:biggrin:

 

[boozie]

This is z68
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/z68-express-lucidlogix-virtu-ssd-caching,2888.html

:biggrin:

That was a pretty solid article and I learned a lot more about SSD caching. Looks like P67 is the way to go for me since I don't care too much about quicksync and I plan to use a big enough SSD that I don't need to take the performance hit of caching.

 

[AkumaX]

With the proper software (Lucid) you will be able to use Quick Sync on the integrated GPU at the same time as you use a discrete CPU.

If this is true (stupid Intel could pull anything on us...) then Z68 for me!!

 

[DesktopMan]

Quoting Fudzilla as proof does not give me ANY confidence that p67 will support Ivy Bridge.

I honestly think Fuado ate paintchips as a child. The man seems to have some mental disabilities.

Yeah it's not exactly directly from Intel. I really doubt Z68 will get Ivy Bridge and not H67 and P67 though, most of the features are identical.

 

[DesktopMan]

If this is true (stupid Intel could pull anything on us...) then Z68 for me!!

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4199/...egrateddiscrete-gpu-on-sandy-bridge-platforms

It should work on both H67 and Z68 but only Z68 will give you overclocking as well.

That said, Intel could just add a bios setting to leave the IGP on even with no monitor connected, removing the need for Lucid which in reality is an ugly driver hack.

 

[wsaenotsock]

P67 does not support integrated graphics.

you're right Looks like all the sandy bridge chipsets *except* the p67 support it.

 

[AkumaX]

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4199/...egrateddiscrete-gpu-on-sandy-bridge-platforms

It should work on both H67 and Z68 but only Z68 will give you overclocking as well.

That said, Intel could just add a bios setting to leave the IGP on even with no monitor connected, removing the need for Lucid which in reality is an ugly driver hack.

I thought you could only use QuickSync if you're using integrated video for H67? (as in, I would like to use QuickSync and still keep my GTX 460 on)

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

I've read in a whitepaper of SB that a person will be able to hook up a monitor to the igp and to the a discrete gpu. Is this true or did I understood it wrong

 

[AkumaX]

I've read in a whitepaper of SB that a person will be able to hook up a monitor to the igp and to the a discrete gpu. Is this true or did I understood it wrong

Z68 might do this, but we have to wait and see

p.s. your name/avatar is quite accurate :awe:

 

[DesktopMan]

I've read in a whitepaper of SB that a person will be able to hook up a monitor to the igp and to the a discrete gpu. Is this true or did I understood it wrong

I can't find a source on this, but I'm pretty sure you can use IGP + discrete graphics on H67 already (and thus Z68 also), as long as there's a monitor hooked up to both. Maybe someone with a H67 board can do a quick test?

Update: found source: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2146489

So yeah. If you have two monitors just hook the second up to the IGP, gives you all the snazz of Quick Sync and a discrete GPU on both H67 and Z68 without any Lucid software.

This gives me an itch to create a DVI plug that pretends to be a monitor just to enable IGP features. A VGA terminator should actually do the trick, such as http://www.overclock.net/overclock-...6646-how-use-multiple-gpu2-clients-using.html

 

[paperwastage]

I can't find a source on this, but I'm pretty sure you can use IGP + discrete graphics on H67 already (and thus Z68 also), as long as there's a monitor hooked up to both. Maybe someone with a H67 board can do a quick test?

Update: found source: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2146489

So yeah. If you have two monitors just hook the second up to the IGP, gives you all the snazz of Quick Sync and a discrete GPU on both H67 and Z68 without any Lucid software.

This gives me an itch to create a DVI plug that pretends to be a monitor just to enable IGP features. A VGA terminator should actually do the trick, such as http://www.overclock.net/overclock-...6646-how-use-multiple-gpu2-clients-using.html

I think it depends on the mobo manufacturer, if they enabled this dual output support on their H67

 

[drizek]

This is z68
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/z68-express-lucidlogix-virtu-ssd-caching,2888.html

:biggrin:

I think one potential use case for SSD cache is to have a 120+GB SSD as a boot drive and a 2TB storage drive hooked up to a 64GB Cache SSD.

The 64GB drive I have now is kind of annoying as a boot drive, and access to the hard drives is slow. I can fix both problems just by buying a 128GB SSD.

 

[DesktopMan]

I think it depends on the mobo manufacturer, if they enabled this dual output support on their H67

I really doubt it. Unless someone gives proof otherwise I'm convinced it works. This is more of an Intel/Windows thing, not mobo configuration. If H67 keeps the GPU running when it has a monitor plugged in and Windows supports using two cards at once (which it does) you're good to go. I have a Q57 board which I might try it on later. Should work there too.

 

[CDC Mail Guy]

one example however could make small SSD's more useful (like the 30GB ones). it would cache the most vital OS files, and the major data chunks of your favorite games.

Lol...GAMES on a 30GB hard drive

 

[drizek]

Games is a perfect use for it. Game intalls are usually much larger than they need to be and contain all sorts of textures and audio files that you never even use. Sad cache is perfect for it.

 

[Morg.]

P67 is the same as Z68 , with a few less useless features no gamer will ever care about.
So awesome.
And the SSD caching thing ... that is just ridiculous, comparing means assuming your brain still processes anything in the sort of bang for the buck, AFTER having bought an SSD.

 

[CeMi]

I've heard the Z68 cache would be shared between CPU & GPU.
Usage by GPU would then reduced CPU performance.
Therefore a P67 + Graphic card would have a better CPU performance than a Z68.

Coud some one confirm, please ?