News - Intel Sandy Bridge CPUs hit UK retail

[HEXUS]

A week after launch, Intel's 2nd generation Core processor family filters through to UK stores.

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[alexh]

Is it just me? Or has Intel screwed up the marketing for the Sandy Bridge?

• The K series processors have the CPU multiplier unlocked.
• The K series are also the only chips with the faster 3000 integrated GPU enabled.
• Integrated GPUs only work when used with H67 chipset.
• H67 chipset does not support CPU multiplier changing.

• Integrated GPUs do not work on the P67 chipset (even as a physics processor).
• You cannot use QuickSync on P67.

Will these issues leave everyone waiting for the touted Z68 chipset in Q2?

[watercooled]

That is pretty funny.
I'm guessing it's not by accident though, the faster GPU might give non-OCers a reason to buy the k CPUs and since this overclocking business will likely drive away a fair few overclockers (IMO) they will need the sales. It is stupid that the H67 doesn't allow unlocking though. But I've said before and I'll say it again, this overclocking BS is really turning me away from Intel and I bet plenty of overclockers feel the same way (excluding fanboys, of course). The whole idea of overclocking is to buy a cheap CPU and run it as fast as a more expensive one with a bit of effort, not buy a more expensive CPU which might not even OC well (unless Intel test them?). And even then am I right in thinking the only thing you can change is the core speed, not memory speed, etc?

[neonplanet40]

Well I know these issues mean im waiting Why should I pay over the odds for a new chip when I cant even use all of its functions?

[watercooled]

Oh and BTW shouldn't that be i5 2500k and i7 2600? I'm not sure though, this naming system doesn't make much sense. I thought it would be 27xx for i5, 29xx for i7 or something - like you get i7 8xx and 9xx, i5 6xx and 7xx, etc now. It just seems like a lucky dip of numbers now?

[davidcrofter]

Agreed this release is very flawed - whether that is by accident or as intended I am not sure. Leaves me very much thinking I will wait to see what these Z68 motherboards actually bring to the table or even skip Intel and wait and see what AMD bring to that same table.

But wouldn't touch them with a bargepole at the moment ... especially with a few reports of chips being cooked in a few days.

IMHO Intel seem to be making a pigs ear of it at the moment despite being in a dominant position and they will need to step up their game if and when AMD start fighting back.

[alexh]

the faster GPU might give non-OCers a reason to buy the k CPUs

Naturally but why not sell these K series chips under a different name?

It is stupid that the H67 doesn't allow unlocking though.

There must be an honest, straight forward, technical limitation. Something in the GPU which cannot be changed from a timing point of view (PCIe clock? Video Sync clock?) must be tied to the CPU clock. The result being an overclock breaks the GPU. If that is not the case then Intel are just mad not to include overclocking on H67.

[alexh]

Another marketing / operations failure that I see is :

Why are Intel not selling Sandy Bridge chips manufactured with faulty GPU's soley for use on the P67? They could greatly increase their yield which would enable them to lower the overall price of the Sandy Bridge range!

[watercooled]

Intel didn't do tri-cores (quads with 1 failed/disabled core) like AMD so I think they only sell fully functioning chips, maybe because they're scared of having people unlocking cores and getting more for their money and/or not buying as many high-end chips?

[chis]

Aaand finally! I can say with certainty that the £300~ I spent on a Phenom X6 1055T, Asus 880G-based mobo and 8GB of DDR3 was a far better purchase than waiting for these CPUs. Not particularly competitive if you ask me, and none of them have more than four cores anyway. Feh!

[watercooled]

Yeah I'm happy with my similar build.

[Ciber]

I'm thinking the low end i3 chips with a cheap board could make a good HTPC build that can easily deal with HD content.

[martynpops]

well i really like the sound of these chips ! but im still on a single core FX55 :S quite an upgrade for me in march just hoping there going to add the lucid chip to the P67 as i'd like the chance to use onboard graphics when in windows and turn off my graphics cards

[miniyazz]

Well, I think that's probably enough to stop me recommending Sandy Bridge to most people. Epic fail. If they'd even released Z68 at the same time, i.e. now, it wouldn't be so bad - but currently it means either paying for a graphics chip you can't use or paying for overclocking which you can't do - not my cup of tea. I don't care what the performance is like, if they're going to **** around with stupid things like this, I'm not going to be advising anyone computer-literate to buy it.

[Jonatron]

I ordered a 2500 with mobo and ram last night to go with my shiny new 6870 . I am a bit annoyed at Intel's constant socket changing and confusing model numbers. Can't they just have a number where a bigger number means faster? So you can say 'What proccessor do you have?' 'A 5000' 'I don't know how fast that is but I know it's slower than my 5500'

[thompsonp]

They didn't manage to hold those prices for long:

2500K £182.70
2600K £275.11

May still be competitive, I've not checked elsewhere.

Not surprised as Scan did a similar thing with the i7 930 when it launched.