2600K or Bulldozer?

[drizek]

I can't decide. I got a decent deal on a 2600K/P8P67-X combo (somewhere around $450+CA tax) and it's tempting.

Pros of 2600K

-available now
- upgradable to 22nm IBridge
- Motherboard includes 6 SATA cables and a front USB 3 hub, which Asus was too cheap to include on the Sabertooth 990fx.
- I know that it is already fast, and overclcoked it is faster still
- Bluetooth on the motherboard
- 16 phase versus 12 phase(not that it matters)

Pros of Bulldozer

- I'd get a motherboard now and a CPU later, so I get to spread the money pain over a few months
- Dual x16 PCIe (the P67-X has extra lanes to do dual x8)
- More (though apparently slower) SATA III ports
- 8 cores
- seems like it could be more fun to mess around with
- It comes in a metal box

Cons of 2600K

-A pretty expensive chip to be getting now to replace with IB
- Socket 1155 is pretty crappy, and it will probably be overshadowed by S2011.
- Is IB actaully going to be that much faster? It seems like Intel is just going to use it to build the same thing for cheaper, at least for S1155.
- Lack of memory bandwidth, PCIe bandwidth. Not sure how long such a system can last. It's pretty ridiculous that without extra PCIe controllers, Intel boards have to shut off USB 3 so you can do Crossfire.

Cons of Bulldozer

- I have no idea when it is coming out
- I have no idea how fast it will be

hmm....

I kind of want a new computer to use over the summer, but I really won't need one until Battlefield 3 comes out.

Right now I wish I could afford to get a S2011, because it really does seem like the best option. You get all the memory bandwidth and PCIe bandwidth in the world, and I'm sure hte performance will be pretty incredible. It just isn't worth the money though.

Anyone have any thoughts? I think the decision is just a lot harder because quite frankly my Phenom II X3 already does everything I need, but I do want a new motherboard so I can buy up a ton of cheap DDR3 ram for Lightroom and VMs, and I want SLI for Battlefield 3.

 

[nonameo]

Personally I'd say get a 2500k and save yourself 100$. You probably won't utilize the 8 threadedness of the 2600k, which is most of what you're paying for. After all, I assume since you're going for a K series processor that you're going to overclock. Also, the mentioning of it in your post

I can see a value win over the 2600k for bulldozer, but beating the 2500k for gaming is going to be really, really tough.

 

[dma0991]

Get neither and wait for IB

The problem is that you are asking to compare something that is already out for 6 months and a proven setup versus something that nobody have any idea about as of now.

I'm not even sure if native x16x16 support is something to wait for when an x8x8 would do just about the same.

-A pretty expensive chip to be getting now to replace with IB
- Socket 1155 is pretty crappy, and it will probably be overshadowed by S2011.
- Is IB actaully going to be that much faster? It seems like Intel is just going to use it to build the same thing for cheaper, at least for S1155.

I don't even know how are these even cons considering that you're comparing with something(IB) that would definitely be better than SB and S2011 CPUs are in a different price point than SB.

TL;DR
SB = FTW till BD comes out(hopefully with good performance)
BD = Duke Nukem Forever

 

[Accord99]

-A pretty expensive chip to be getting now to replace with IB

You don't need to replace it so quickly; a good but doable overclock of 4.8Ghz on the 2600K already gets you the equivalent throughput of 8 3.9~4.2 GHz Phenom II cores.

- Socket 1155 is pretty crappy, and it will probably be overshadowed by S2011.

- Lack of memory bandwidth, PCIe bandwidth. Not sure how long such a system can last. It's pretty ridiculous that without extra PCIe controllers, Intel boards have to shut off USB 3 so you can do Crossfire.

I don't think the additions of S2011 will make a difference for the vast majority of users. Reviews have shown that extra bandwidth and reduced memory latency doesn't make that much of a difference in most applications with Sandy Bridge. IMO, the only the reason to go S2011 is if you plan to run more than 2 video cards, use a 6-core SB or need to use lots of memory with S2011 boards that come with 8 DIMM slots.

Crossfire should have no effect on USB3 since the video card PCI-e lanes are connected directly to the CPU. The P8P67 Pro has a problem where if you set the 3rd PCI-e x16 slot to x4, it would disable some of the USB3 and ESATA ports as there are not enough lanes from the southbridge. However, since you have the Deluxe, it utilizes a bridge chip so that all components are able run simultaneously by sharing the lanes.

 

[nanaki333]

BD keeps getting delayed. nobody knows when it's going to finally come out. just get SB now.

 

[drizek]

But is it really worth $500 to get the 2600K setup over my Phenom II X3 720? it's basically a 120% increase in performance.

I'm assuming that 8-core bulldozer will give me more than that though. 4GHz on 8 cores even with the same IPC as Phenom should be quite a bit faster than the 2600K, right?

 

[nonameo]

I kind of want a new computer to use over the summer, but I really won't need one until Battlefield 3 comes out.

If BF3 is your main reason for wanting to upgrade, then wait till it comes out and find out what it takes to run it at a level that is acceptable to you. If you still can't hold it in, my previous suggestion holds I don't see the 2500k dropping in price much over the next 3 months regardless of what AMD releases. Intel is just like that. I mean, look at C2Q prices. Still in the stratosphere.(well, considering how old they are.) (note: bodes well for resale value)

 

[Crap Daddy]

I don't really think that BD will offer better performance for less money. The top AMD BD will retail apparently at the same price as i7-2600K so I assume it'll be on par or at most slightly better for real world applications and gaming. Meanwhile for 500$ or 400$ if you go with the 2500K you'll see a massive improvement over your Phenom with a SB version, you said it's 120% and that is now. I'm absolutely sure that an unlocked SB, if necessary overclocked - which is a walk in the park really - paired with a high-end GPU wil play BF3 at highest settings no problem.

 

[ensign_lee]

To me, the choice is clear. You already have the i7. Use that. And you have the potential for future upgradability in the future to Ivy Brdige, which should blow AMD's offerings out of the water even if Bulldozer performs better than expected.

 

[Inspire]

I was in this boat too. I had an AMD Athlon II 630 and was going to wait for BD. However, there will always be the next new CPU/GPU coming soon (tm). Since the 2500K is pretty darn sweet I just went and got it, Now, that was a couple of months ago. If I had waited til now I would still be sitting here with that 630.

If its intel it might be worth that wait. AMD. nah.

 

[RobDickinson]

I just bought a 2500k setup. IB will be ages, theres no rush for intel to push it out the door.

BD may be as fast as a 2500/2600 but only if your using al its cores. For stuff that will use a restricted no of threads (or one) IMO SNB will easily crush it.

 

[nyker96]

personally I'd probably buy 2600k over BD since it has better IPC. probably more energy efficient and from the loooks of BD delays, 2600k will have higher oc potential.

however, with that said, since you are doing VM and Lightroom and all that threaded stuff, I can't say for sure BD will be useless to you since it IS made for multihtreaded stuff. Since no benchmarks out who knows maybe BD will just be that strong in stuff like Lightroom etc. You may be able run all your vm/lightroom/gaming at the same time on a BD machine BUT no bench, no definite conclusion.

 

[Arg Clin]

If your current system does everything you need, I think it would be madness to upgrade now, with Bulldozer a few months off and IB also on the horizon.

 

[ROJAS]

Get the 2600K and overclock!

Save your money from Bulldozer

 

[Bartman39]

- Lack of memory bandwidth

WTF...? Were does this come from...? I`ve ran the numbers and an OC`d 2600K slaughters just about anything... I`m sure quad channel memory with IVB`s mem controller will certainly be better but better for what and at what price...? To me the SB 2500K & 2600K are the here and now and for some time processors... A 3 core Ph II is yesterdays news and todays word processor as compared...

Intel boards have to shut off USB 3 so you can do Crossfire.

Horse feathers...! What crack chronicales are you reading...? Where are you getting your information or are you just trying to start shit...?:hmm:

 

[RussianSensation]

overclock of 4.8Ghz on the 2600K already gets you the equivalent throughput of 8 3.9~4.2 GHz Phenom II cores.

What? A 4.8ghz 2600k is at least 40-50% faster than an X6 1100 @ 4.2ghz. :biggrin:

 

[aegisofrime]

drizek, I hope you won't mind me posting here because I'm in mostly the same situation as you.

The difference between me and you is that I need a new PC sooner rather than later. My PC is used for video encoding; It's currently a Phenom II 955, and I have been putting off my workload (which is personal BTW, not business) in anticipation of i7-2600K which is twice as fast.

For me, the decision between i7-2600K and Bulldozer would not have been so difficult if its a gaming rig. Knowing that most games requires IPC instead of core count, I couldn't go wrong with the 2600K. Yet Bulldozer with its 8 core count seemed to suit my needs perfectly.

I think AMD has done an awesome job keeping me in this dilemma. Everytime a benchmark comes out showing Bulldozer (or at least, it's ES samples) not performing well, the AMD fanboys come out with a really plausible reason as to why it is so, and why the final production chips will perform better.

Le sigh

 

[drizek]

Light room is why I want to upgrade, but BF3 is what might make me NEED to upgrade.

As for memory bandwidth, I know that 1155 is sufficient for SB, but I'm thinking long term. Will dual channel 1600 cut it for 6, 8, 12 core intel CPUs? I'm going to want more thAn 4 cores in the future and Im not sure intel can deliver that without a new socket(like s2011).

Theres just this psychological thing. I'd rather have amds top end CPU and chipset than Intels roided-out midrange chip, even if the AMD chip is slower. Did I mention it comes in a metal box?

 

[aegisofrime]

Light room is why I want to upgrade, but BF3 is what might make me NEED to upgrade.

As for memory bandwidth, I know that 1155 is sufficient for SB, but I'm thinking long term. Will dual channel 1600 cut it for 6, 8, 12 core intel CPUs? I'm going to want more thAn 4 cores in the future and Im not sure intel can deliver that without a new socket(like s2011).

Theres just this psychological thing. I'd rather have amds top end CPU and chipset than Intels roided-out midrange chip, even if the AMD chip is slower. Did I mention it comes in a metal box?

Ivy Bridge, with a 22nm die shrink might deliver hexa-cores. More (8-12) might take a bit longer.

I suffer from the psychological thing as well. AMD's 8-core marketing has gotten to me, even though I'm aware of the possibility that each of these 8 cores might not be comparable to each of Sandy Bridge's cores.

Again it is the lack of information that makes this buying decision very uncomfortable.

 

[TemjinGold]

Light room is why I want to upgrade, but BF3 is what might make me NEED to upgrade.

As for memory bandwidth, I know that 1155 is sufficient for SB, but I'm thinking long term. Will dual channel 1600 cut it for 6, 8, 12 core intel CPUs? I'm going to want more thAn 4 cores in the future and Im not sure intel can deliver that without a new socket(like s2011).

Theres just this psychological thing. I'd rather have amds top end CPU and chipset than Intels roided-out midrange chip, even if the AMD chip is slower. Did I mention it comes in a metal box?

You can stop trying to persuade him now, fellas...

 

[dma0991]

You can stop trying to persuade him now, fellas...

Did I mention it comes in a metal box?

Nuff said.

 

[aegisofrime]

Since you guys have given up on him, mind trying to persuade me?

 

[Zstream]

Horse feathers...! What crack chronicales are you reading...? Where are you getting your information or are you just trying to start shit...?:hmm:

The first iterations of USB 3.0 was to use pcie lanes to function. It limits bandwidth in multi-gpu scenarios. No idea if thats the case with new motherboards.

http://www.overclockers.com/usb-30-testing-gigabyte-ud3r-ud6/

 

[TemjinGold]

Since you guys have given up on him, mind trying to persuade me?

Sure. New stuff is always around the corner. Buy the best you can afford at the latest point in time that you need it.

 

[aegisofrime]

Sure. New stuff is always around the corner. Buy the best you can afford at the latest point in time that you need it.

Thanks. There's something in what you said