Wait for Ivy Bridge or Bite Sandy Bridge?

[geokilla]

Basically, I'm getting mixed results and dunno what I want to do. Do I buy a Sandy Bridge setup now like Core i5 2500K + MSI Z77A-G45 or do I wait for Ivy Bridge? Or I can buy the I5 2500K for $210 and EVGA Z68 SLI for $170. Ideally, I want the AsRock Z68 Extreme 3 Gen 3, but if I was to get Sandy Bridge, I'd consider spending a bit more for a better motherboard.

Having said that, I don't need to upgrade. I just have the upgrade itch. I usually play SC2 and planning for Diablo 3 when it comes out. Honestly, the Phenom II is good enough for what I do on the computer. What would you do?
http://www.ncix.com/products/index....& 2500K&manufacture=Bundle Deals&promoid=1259

 

[Maximilian]

I would snag a used 2600k.

 

[Grooveriding]

I'd bite Sandy, bite Sandy hard...

 

[nanaki333]

isn't ivy launching this monday?

 

[Don Karnage]

TRy and think of it this way. 3570K is good up till 4.6Ghz on air. 2500K is good up till 4.8Ghz on air. Ivy is on average 8% better then sandy. 4600mhz X 1.08 = 4968mhz.

4.6Ghz Ivy = 5Ghz Sandy

Go ivy. You'll be happy

 

[Coup27]

Wait 2 weeks when IB is released and then make an informed decision based on facts and not rumours and hear'say?

 

[Dave3000]

TRy and think of it this way. 3570K is good up till 4.6Ghz on air. 2500K is good up till 4.8Ghz on air. Ivy is on average 8% better then sandy. 4600mhz X 1.08 = 4968mhz.

4.6Ghz Ivy = 5Ghz Sandy

Go ivy. You'll be happy

You should not think of it that way. Overclocking does not count. Not every CPU overclocks the same and overclocking is not guaranteed or supported speed by the CPU manufacturer. You should think of it in terms of factory specifications, eg, i5 2500k is guaranteed good at 3.3GHz + stock turbo boost, eq, 3.7 GHz when only 1 core is active.

 

[Hubb1e]

I've been waiting for Ivy for months. The only average overclocking results of the ES chips and the expected price premium for ivy and z77 got me to jump on the Micro Center sandy combo with a cheap z68 board. There's no way I will be able to get both an Ivy and a board for $250 for another 3-6 months so I jumped on Sandy. Seems stupid that I didn't buy one a year ago but oh well.

 

[Don Karnage]

You should not think of it that way. Overclocking does not count. Not every CPU overclocks the same and overclocking is not guaranteed or supported speed by the CPU manufacturer. You should think of it in terms of factory specifications, eg, i5 2500k is guaranteed good at 3.3GHz + stock turbo boost, eq, 3.7 GHz when only 1 core is active.

Overclocking does count. They're both K models.

 

[Tempered81]

It's a wash, you're gonna end up with 4.5-4.8 on IB, and 4.7-5.3 on SB.

IB is a little faster, SB a little cheaper.

Wash mate

 

[SickBeast]

The $199 2600k at micro center is a steal. Buy buy buy!!!

 

[Absolute0]

Can't go wrong really, but at this point you are best off waiting 2 weeks.

ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 is a fine board I mean it overclocks fine... I was able to run Prime at 5.1 Ghz, bench at 5.2 and boot into windows at 5.4 Ghz so it shows you that even the budget boards can clock with the 200+$ boards.

 

[Tsaar]

$200 2600k with the GB mobo combo made my decision for me.

 

[Tempered81]

You could get awesome 3770K performance for $335, or get equal or better performance out of a 2600K for $199. Easy decision. Folks will still buy IB, heck even BD still sells. SB is the best tho.

 

[MrTransistorm]

$200 2600k with the GB mobo combo made my decision for me.

Yep. I picked up another 2600K along with a GB Z77X-UD5H... the day before the sale started! Talk about bad timing! :\ Fortunately MC agreed to refund/credit the difference.

So far this new chip/MB combo is doing great. I don't know if it's due to the improved VRM's or just a better 2600K, but it's stable at 4.5 GHz at lower voltage than my older rig.

 

[geokilla]

I've been waiting for Ivy for months. The only average overclocking results of the ES chips and the expected price premium for ivy and z77 got me to jump on the Micro Center sandy combo with a cheap z68 board. There's no way I will be able to get both an Ivy and a board for $250 for another 3-6 months so I jumped on Sandy. Seems stupid that I didn't buy one a year ago but oh well.

There's no way I can get a CPU and motherboard for under $300. Up here in Canada and elsewhere in USA where there is no Microcenter, expect to spend roughly $400 tax included. Which is why I'm holding back. No need to upgrade, but the fact that Sandy/Ivy Bridge is so fast makes it very tempting.

 

[fatwalletuser]

Get the i2600K.

If you have a local microcenter nearby:
Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz LGA 1155 Quad Core Processor $200 In-Store Only

 

[geokilla]

Get the i2600K.

If you have a local microcenter nearby:
Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz LGA 1155 Quad Core Processor $200 In-Store Only

Please read....

 

[jcniest5]

I tried to score a golden 2600K at MC's but it's worse than my 2500K, which I bought with the Z77-V Deluxe back on the 9th. No luck at all, so I sold the CPU. Gonna get another one to try. Can't give up, can I!

 

[BallaTheFeared]

You'd notice pretty decent gain in SC2 with either chip over a Phenom II.

 

[Deathwolf]

well iam going to wait for Ivy Bridge's final release or next stepping of it later this year then decide to either wait for Haswell or get the Sandy.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

id wait a few months to buy ib to make sure there are no problems.

 

[bleucharm28]

i've said this a thousand time, but im gona say it again. I wish we have MC in Seattle

 

[Mars999]

From what I have seen the IB is only about 5-15% faster stock to stock speeds. From the looks of it, the price for the 3770K is going to be the same as a 2600K so you may as well pick up the 3770K

 

[dshea]

Get the i2600K.

If you have a local microcenter nearby:
Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz LGA 1155 Quad Core Processor $200 In-Store Only

Did I miss the boat on this? I just perused the ad posted on microcenter but couldn't find such a deal...