Intel SNB-E i7-3820 review

[moocow]

Basically, it's 5% better than 2600K but at a lower price. However, once you factor in motherboard, CPU cooler and 4 sticks of RAM, it cost more.

Intel Core i7-3820 Processor Review - Quad-Core Sandy Bridge-E under $300 | PC Perspective

[Eldonko]

5% in single card 3d. What about SLI tests? Half the point of the 40 PCI-E lane SB-E platform is multi-GPU. When this chip goes retail I think it will be tough to recommend a 2600K over a 3820 for someone building a new system.

[Bond007]

Originally Posted by Eldonko

5% in single card 3d. What about SLI tests? Half the point of the 40 PCI-E lane SB-E platform is multi-GPU. When this chip goes retail I think it will be tough to recommend a 2600K over a 3820 for someone building a new system.

Agreed for the most part, but it will depend how motherboard prices end up. If they come down in price it will likely be a hands down choice, but if they don't then there will be cases/budgets that would be better off with 2600.

As for the ram there was a review on another site (can't remember off hand from where) that tested with 2/3/4 channel configs on a SB-E CPU and for the most part there was no difference. Meaning You could start with dual channel and upgrade as required (or if required).

Edit: that said I think this will be the way to go for someone that wants more than a 2500k pending final pricing.

EDIT 2: Here is the review that contains the 2/3/4 memory channel tests.

DDR3 SDRAM for LGA 2011: Which Memory Is Best?. Page 3 - X-bit labs

[elmorejohn46]

Does anyone else have a i7-3820 and could tell me if getting conductive paste in that hole would cause any problems.

[monkey_mo]

Omg i was wondering about that too, i thought it was such a noob question, were p4 chips the last chip to have a hole on the top part of the cpu

[SillyBilly]

No. There are no issues getting paste in the hole, the last thing I saw with a hole in the heat spreader was a gtx480.

And you do not want to be using an electrically conductive paste any way.

Edit: Proof : Nerds Guide To Baking Your Own GTX480 Keyring! - YouTube

That would make a sick key chain.

[elmorejohn46]

That is the reason I bought the i7-3820 is because I have three GTX-470 and don't want to upgrade yet since two of them are fast enough .I run them at 725/1750 so I can keep the voltage at default,but they will run at 830/1900 but then I have to up the voltage and speed up the fan to loud.But I check with intel and they said it would not hurt if paste got in it ,but I will be useing Artic Silver ceramique to be on the safe side.