Keep your Sandy Bridge!

[Buckster]

Yes, others have tested. FUGGER is indeed correct, IPC in 3D is killing Sandy Bridge. 2600K @ 5 GHz HT disabled 3DMark11 = 7991 3DMarks, 3570K @ 4.55 GHz = 8004 3DMarks. A 450 MHz deficiency and the same score (it's well within margin of error). Sorry I'm not going to show pictures yet, but you're welcome to wait and see for yourself. If you can reach 4.7 GHz on air, you'll be up there with a 5.2 GHz 2600K - a speed that not many (if any) can run 24/7. In that respect IB is indeed a lot better than SB. FUGGER also didn't give specifics, he could be talking about extreme overclocking with 6.5 GHz or more in which case SB can't hold a candle to IB as not only IPC is up slightly but clock speeds are in a different league.

If you have SB right now running upwards of 4.5 GHz, don't upgrade unless you need the bragging rights. If you're on anything pre-SB, wait for IB.

Honestly though, there's no need to take my word for it. The chips will be out soon and then you can see for yourself what IB can do. Since Feb I've been saying that clock speeds are going to be lower for 24/7, overall performance is going to be better and overclocking is going to be unholy - watch and see

which would you pick out of a 3770k or a 3820 please ? I'm upgrading from a Q6600 and I'm guessing that build price for mobo/cpu/ram is about the same for a 3820 and mid-range X79 motherboard or a 3770k and mid-range Z77 - as although the X79 motherboards are slightly more expensive - I'm guessing the 3820 is/will be around $70 or so cheaper than the 3770k ?

many thanks - just gaming and the odd bit of video encoding

also - as a footnote- the Sandy prices have started reducing in the UK - the 2700k can now be got for 5 dollars or so more than the 3820 - its come down quite a bit over the last week. I'm thinking that in reality another option would be 2700k + Z77 - the 2700k is not much more than the rumoured price of the 3550k and a lot less than the 3770k. 2700k aren't exactly shabby overclockers ...