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First let me say waiting for IB driving me nuts... but I can do it..

I probably should make this a poll, but I'd prefer to get reasoned answers instead of simple clicks..

I'm in the process of putting together a new machine, and I'm going to go Intel this time around.. Assuming price of the [b]CPU only[\b] is not an issue, which part would be the best?

Ivy Bridge (i7 unlocked part)
Sandy Bridge-E (3930K)
Sandy Bridge (i7 2700K)

I want to plan on gaming (I'm probably getting a 670 or 680 a couple months after Kepler launches, so that's my time frame), may some photo work, and android development.

I've got most of my other components picked out, just need to figure out motherboard and CPU, so the features of motherboards can be used, but I'm okay with the price of the CPU (I've got a line on a great deal for intel CPU's, so the three I listed fall within my budget)..

druidcent wrote:

Ivy Bridge (i7 unlocked part)
Sandy Bridge-E (3930K)
Sandy Bridge (i7 2700K)

I vote Murray Bridge!

Hence the lack of poll I couldn't find a good cheese for a fourth option...

I'll vote for the Core i5-3570K (Ivy Bridge) with mozzarella on top.

You'll want to wait for the Panther Point platform controller hub (Intel Z77 chipset) to choose your motherboard.

I agree with JAE. The 3570K should fall in the ~$220 price range, the Sandy Bridge - E processors are only going to be better than Ivy Bridge in terms of memory throughput which very few enthusiasts really need/use, and the i7-2600K/2700K are overpriced for what you're getting if you're only gaming. We're talking 50% more cost for less than 10% more performance in most/all cases. (Much less for games, sometimes a little more in applications that efficiently take advantage of 8 threads) Not to mention that both the 2500K and 2600k/2700K overclock to roughly the same frequencies. I would expect the same story between the 3570K and the 3770K.

Have you checked out anandtech's review of the Ivy Bridge 3770K yet?

Looks like you are going pretty high end from that list.

If you are looking to spend $500-$700 for a board and CPU, have you considered Sandy Bridge-EP and a dual board?
If you need more then 4 threads badly enough to look at a 2700K, then maybe you should look at the EP stuff.
Check out these two TR links:

http://techreport.com/discussions.x/22583

http://techreport.com/discussions.x/22625

You can get this board and this chip for around $900.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813131817
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819115229

Just a couple of hundred dollars more then a 2700K and high end S1155 board, with a lot more potential down the road.

Just sayin

Like I said, I've got a good line on Intel CPU's That brings SB-E down into the reasonable territory (sub $250) and the 2700K under $200.. I'd have to get a seperate mobo, and the Z77 series looks very tempting.. I like the TDP envelope for IB, and I'll probably wait for IB over a 2700K.. Mostly I was trying to figure out the performance difference for SB-E, and if the new Z77 is much better than the X79... and if PantherPoint was going to come out for the LGA2011 socket...

druidcent wrote:

Like I said, I've got a good line on Intel CPU's That brings SB-E down into the reasonable territory (sub $250) and the 2700K under $200..

Wanna buy a 3570K for me too!?

I vote Cougar Gold! Too bad it isn't called Panther Gold — that'd be even more appropriate!

@druidcent: here's a 2600K vs a 3930K. Long story short: gaming and basic coding and photo work don't benefit from the extra RAM throughput of SB-E, so get Sandy or Ivy. You don't need a Hyper-Threaded processor, either. If you just want to blow cash on a 2700K because of your discount, it's not like you'll be disappointed with it... but I presume your deal would also work with a 2500K.

Z77 isn't appreciably better than Z68 or X79 for your applications. Panther Point is for 1155 processors, so no, it won't come to LGA2011. IB-E is rumored to be backwards-compatible with X79, and it may or may not have its own updated version of the chipset (X89 or whatever). Haven't heard much on that front.

Thanks.. Looking at the 2600k vs 3930 was helpful... I'm a little confused on the Civ 5 benchmarks though... they seem to be wonky..

And unfortunately, the discount isn't applicable to all Intel CPU's.. Apparently it's only what is in stock... I know they'll be getting IB, just not sure which one (probably the top-end)

Ok, finally got some prices back on the 3570K and 3770K...

I'm looking at around $120 for the 3570k and $170 for 3770K...

From the prices it looks like the 3770k looks like the better deal? Anything I should be concerned with?

Yes, how jealous you're making everyone feel. (go with the 3770K)

DPete27 wrote:

druidcent wrote:

I'm looking at around $120 for the 3570k and $170 for 3770K...

Yes, how jealous you're making everyone feel. (go with the 3770K)

...and Microcenter's prices are considered loss-leading deals. (off-topic) So, how does one get these prices?

druidcent wrote:

Ok, finally got some prices back on the 3570K and 3770K...

I'm looking at around $120 for the 3570k and $170 for 3770K...

From the prices it looks like the 3770k looks like the better deal? Anything I should be concerned with?

Yes, a whole bunch of us showing up with wads of cash looking to get those prices.
3770 K , what a great deal ,jump all over it.

Well, there's this truck.. and I know a guy

Seriously, it's because of a corporate discount, so I'm limited to one CPU every 6 months..

rogue426 wrote:

What a great deal! Jump all over it.

Press the "TRIPLE BUY" button:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/18724672/