Is Sandy Bridge REALLY worth the wait?

[Anomaly1964]

Ok, I'm not a NEWB but kinda behind the curve as I have not built a computer in over three years...

Everything I have read recently says that for hard core gaming, while the CPU is important, the GPU is where you really get your maxed out graphics from...

So will I be just as well served to buy a current AMD X6 or i7 processor with a GTX 570 or 580 video card or if I wait a month and go Sandy Bridge with one of these cards will I, WITH MY HUMAN EYE, notice a difference in my gaming experience...?

FOR ME, it's not about having the highest benchmark, it's about what my human eye can actually detect as a good, better, or best gaming experience...

YOUR thoughts?

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

The GPU is a better place to be concerned when it comes to improving your gaming experience. Go with the GTX 580

 

[smakme7757]

The GPU is a very important factor when it comes to gaming and the GTX 580 is a very nice card , but i don't know if it's wise to buy into an AMD X6 or Core i7 right now. Both have been around over 2 years and their successor is to be released in January.

If your after a new gaming system jump on Sandy bridge in January. It will give you a platform which has a future and most likely better clock for clock performance than what is available now. If you buy Core i7 now your upgrade options are limited as no new CPU will be made for that socket. If you were to buy into AMD Phenom II X6 you might have the possibility to drop in a Bulldozer chip later on, but it will most likely be missing some functionality.

And if you don't think SB is any good after reading the reviews you can still buy an old AMD X6 or an old Core i7.

 

[Sp12]

Sandy Bridge poses to be a much smarter option for new system builders. The current round of chips has been around for ~2+ years and has very few upgrade paths.

SB will have some nice new features (integrated GPU, hardware transcoder, better clock for clock, higher overclocks, better IMC, UEFI, Sata3 integrated), but the big selling point IMO is that you could upgrade in a year or two to Ivy bridge (6-8 cores, GPGPU capable integrated GPU, 22nm).

If you wouldn't be building until January anyway then by all means wait. If you're building now, consider the value of having the system an extra 2-3 weeks early over having a more upgradable and futureproof/featurefull system later.

 

[Anomaly1964]

The GPU is a very important factor when it comes to gaming and the GTX 580 is a very nice card , but i don't know if it's wise to buy into an AMD X6 or Core i7 right now. Both have been around over 2 years and their successor is to be released in January.

If your after a new gaming system jump on Sandy bridge in January. It will give you a platform which has a future and most likely better clock for clock performance than what is available now. If you buy Core i7 now your upgrade options are limited as no new CPU will be made for that socket. If you were to buy into AMD Phenom II X6 you might have the possibility to drop in a Bulldozer chip later on, but it will most likely be missing some functionality.

And if you don't think SB is any good after reading the reviews you can still buy an old AMD X6 or an old Core i7.

Well my goal IS to build a rig that would be able to play games in say...3 years? Am I being unrealistic?

On the otherhand, I want something NOW LOL!

I will be off over Christmas and can take my time building it...

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

Lots of people hang on to their current systems for a long while. That said, I don't think I'd personally want that chip with an integrated GPU? What benefits would a gamer get from having an integrated GPU on their CPU? Wouldn't overclocking be a problem like in the past?

 

[Sp12]

Lots of people hang on to their current systems for a long while. That said, I don't think I'd personally want that chip with an integrated GPU? What benefits would a gamer get from having an integrated GPU on their CPU? Wouldn't overclocking be a problem like in the past?

Consider the GPU an extension you never use. I imagine most BIOS's will allow you to disable it, and even if you don't use it for display (for example, on a P67 board) I think HD decode/encode/some GPGPU can be done on it.

Not to mention if you're building an H67 build it allows you to downgrade it to a HTPC when you upgrade. H67 also allows you to have a backup GPU in the event that your dedicated card dies.

 

[tech960]

Sandy Bridge poses to be a much smarter option for new system builders. The current round of chips has been around for ~2+ years and has very few upgrade paths.

SB will have some nice new features (integrated GPU, hardware transcoder, better clock for clock, higher overclocks, better IMC, UEFI, Sata3 integrated), but the big selling point IMO is that you could upgrade in a year or two to Ivy bridge (6-8 cores, GPGPU capable integrated GPU, 22nm).

Correct me if I'm wrong, but won't the 6-8 core chips be in the LGA2011 socket?

 

[Sp12]

As far as I know Sandy Bridge will be 6-8 cores for 2011, with Ivy bridge bringing 6-8 cores to 1155 (and 12 to 2011).

 

[smangular]

If you were to buy into AMD Phenom II X6 you might have the possibility to drop in a Bulldozer chip later on, but it will most likely be missing some functionality.

No Bulldozer will be AM3+ socket based and the CPU will not function in the AM3 Motherboards although AM3 CPUs will function in AM3+ motherboards.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/di...rocessors_Will_Require_New_Platforms_AMD.html

 

[smakme7757]

Lots of people hang on to their current systems for a long while. That said, I don't think I'd personally want that chip with an integrated GPU? What benefits would a gamer get from having an integrated GPU on their CPU? Wouldn't overclocking be a problem like in the past?

remember that on the P67chipset the integrated GPU is disabled by default. I doubt having an IGP will hinder performance in anyway or overclocking for that matter. People at xtremesystems have Got the chip over 4.8Ghz on air.

 

[Obsoleet]

For mobile it definitely is, it's a slick package. For a desktop PC, doesn't matter as much. I see no reason to spaz out and buy now though, with it coming soon enough.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

intel is promising sb will be a big upgrade, id take their word for it...

 

[boggsie]

If you are really on the fence, consider buying the FS/FT items that will result from the early adopters going down the road to Sandy Bridge. This gives you a reason to hold off so that you can see the real-world advantages to Sandy Bridge ... if there are any. There are a couple of wolfdale E8400s in FS/FT, one of them under $100 shipped. That's soon to be two generations old, but still a reasonable gaming chip option.

If you must buy to satisfy your Christmastime build urge, you've just ruled out Sandy Bridge, as the only place you can get a Sandy Bridge chip is via the grey market; eB@y resellers have engineering samples, but you are going to pay a huge premium, just to be a few weeks ahead of others. So if you must build now, a current i7 is your best performance option.

Personally, I couldn't see buying into i7/1156, so I have all my parts on the way, including an ASUS P67 motherboard. My rig will be all set to go and I'll be waiting at the door of MicroCenter on the morning of January 9th.

Best regards,
-boggsie

 

[AsusGuy]

Sandy Bridge will be a good upgrade but it won't be a huge difference from current i7 systems. I think if you invest in a good CPU now, e.g. an i7 930 or 950 you will be happy. Micro Center always has good deals on CPUs. I am still using my 3 year old Core2 without any problems in games and I got that right before e8xxx Wolfdale chips came out. My point is although its better to wait for SB, building now will also get you a great PC that you can use for years to come. The AMD 69xx cards are also a great deal for the price right now.

 

[SHAQ]

As far as I know Sandy Bridge will be 6-8 cores for 2011, with Ivy bridge bringing 6-8 cores to 1155 (and 12 to 2011).

Wow! I wonder if we will have programs designed to run with 6+ cores?

 

[mv2devnull]

Wow! I wonder if we will have programs designed to run with 6+ cores?

We already do have them.

 

[harbin]

if you get socket 1366 system for cheap, don't wait on sandy

 

[CosmicMight]

if you get socket 1366 system for cheap, don't wait on sandy

Problem is you can't. Most good 1366 boards are still $175+. The 950 is still $290 @ Newegg. Even if it's $200 at MC, so? See below.

Will you see a difference? Unless you play on the bleeding edge, no.

Is it a good idea to upgrade now? Unquestionably not. I've asked myself this over and over again and looked at the benchmarks dozens and dozens of times, because I need a new comp too. The answer is that you're paying almost the same money for 2 year old+ tech when the new stuff is 3 weeks away, people.

The only way this makes sense is if your job depends on having one. I'm sorry, but it's pretty foolish at this point. If we were even a couple months out it would be a lot more gray.

 

[Anomaly1964]

Hmmm, the last few post have me leaning toward waiting...

...I HATE waiting, LOL!

 

[Dark Shroud]

I'd say it's worth it to wait. I'm hurting pretty bad myself since I'm posting this from a P4 system. I have everything but the new mobo, CPU, & memory.

I really want a hexa-core cpu but I can settle for a new SB quad-core and upgrade to octo-core later at Ivy Bridge.

 

[toyota]

Hmmm, the last few post have me leaning toward waiting...

...I HATE waiting, LOL!

32nm and much higher clock speeds while using less power is reason enough to wait a couple of weeks. a 2500k would be a much long term better purchase than the i5 760 for the same amount of money. heck just a stock 2500k will handle any single gpu setup that will come out in the next few years.

 

[Anomaly1964]

32nm and much higher clock speeds while using less power is reason enough to wait a couple of weeks. a 2500k would be a much long term better purchase than the i5 760 for the same amount of money. heck just a stock 2500k will handle any single gpu setup that will come out in the next few years.

I wonder how available they will be...?

 

[CosmicMight]

I'd say it's worth it to wait. I'm hurting pretty bad myself since I'm posting this from a P4 system. I have everything but the new mobo, CPU, & memory.

I really want a hexa-core cpu but I can settle for a new SB quad-core and upgrade to octo-core later at Ivy Bridge.

Yup. At some point in the last 6? months, my venerable E6600 started running at an idle temp of 53C, 70 under load - and it's not oc'd. Pretty sure that my Big Typhoon (yes my rig is that old) was never seated properly to begin with, it was my first build and I was a little sloppy. Ultimately, I really don't care; I got every penny's worth out of this heap. All I know is that my brand new Phantom case is sitting about 3 feet from my current rig, ready to be filled with goodness. There is a 2500k out there with my name on it.

OP: sorry for the rambling, but as you can see - you aren't alone by any means. You can obviously do what you want with your money, but the answer is going to be the same from now until Jan 9th: for everyone who is asking this question out of sheer impatience, it's pretty stupid not to wait.

 

[toyota]

I wonder how available they will be...?

I dont see why you think availability will be a problem because it will be a huge hard launch. there are already lots of cpus and mobos floating around right now.