If your considering a Sandy Bridge CPU,a rep from ASUS made a very informative post after testing 100 CPU's...http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=265398

1. Approximately 50% of CPUs can go up to 4.4~4.5 GHz2. Approximately 40% of CPUs can go up to 4.6~4.7 GHz3. Approximately 10% of CPUs can go up to 4.8~5 GHz

Let me restate (cumulative percentages are more descriptive):1. Approximately 100% of CPUs can go up to 4.4~4.5 GHz2. Approximately 90% of CPUs can go up to 4.6~4.7 GHz3. Approximately 10% of CPUs can go up to 4.8~5 GHz Cheers,- jahman.

Quote:Enter a CPU V Core Voltage value of 1.415 or 1.425I thought 1.40 was the maximum voltage allowed with these chips. (?)

Let me restate (cumulative percentages are more descriptive):1. Approximately 100% of CPUs can go up to 4.4~4.5 GHz2. Approximately 90% of CPUs can go up to 4.6~4.7 GHz3. Approximately 10% of CPUs can go up to 4.8~5 GHz Cheers,- jahman.

I don't follow your logic as "more descriptive"; I find it more deceptive. I think what you really mean is that if you happen to have a 4.7 OC, you 'score' in 90% of all overclocks. This DOES NOT mean that your chances of buying a SB that can OC to 4.7 is 90%; it's still only 40% according the OP link. As for max voltage, its sort of up in the air. The expounded 'safe' 1.4v is contradicted by intel's max VID spec of 1.52v. Lets hope to see the last word in this matter sometime soon.

Quote:Enter a CPU V Core Voltage value of 1.415 or 1.425I thought 1.40 was the maximum voltage allowed with these chips. (?)

It was 1.40V for 45nm chips... for 32nm CPUs like Gulftowns it's 1.375Vso even worse. I'd never push my Vcore further than 1.35V given it's such a new platform. There's always time to adjust the overclock in the future

if you get a pre-oc'd bundle with a high oc you may help your chances of getting a good chip as it is in their best interest to get a stable low-voltage cpu as most of an oc warranty...

So this chip at newegg would be highly recommended? I never even heard of Sandy Bridge until I hauled myself over here from the FS2004 forum, because I now have a copy of FSX.http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115070

It was 1.40V for 45nm chips... for 32nm CPUs like Gulftowns it's 1.375Vso even worse. I'd never push my Vcore further than 1.35V given it's such a new platform. There's always time to adjust the overclock in the future

I agree.Vcc_max is directly related to Vid and that varies from chip to chip. It should be possible to work out your Vid by observation and if we knew the Hex code conversions it should be possible to know the Vcc_max for each chip by reference to the spec sheets.I dont think that is the end of the story though. As I understand it, Vcc_Max is the maximum voltage that Intel guarantee the chip will maintain its specified performance. Beyond that is a window that it may or may not maintain its performance long term and beyond that is another window where it will definitely degrade over time. How quickly it degrades depends on the Vcc applied and duration.The other thought is that the chip is relatively cheap to replace if you do blow it up.Plent of scope for experimentation and destruction

So this chip at newegg would be highly recommended? I never even heard of Sandy Bridge until I hauled myself over here from the FS2004 forum, because I now have a copy of FSX.http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115070

Yes that's the one, also the 2500K . The K is key as it means it's an unlocked chip with the right motherboard. Both are being over clocked from 4 to 4.5 Ghz or more with little effort on H67 motherboards.Pair that with decent video card and FSX is as good as it gets.

The percentages in the Asus post are not clear...Is it 50% of chips go to at least 4.5 and the other 50% do not,or50% are limited to 4.5 and the other 50% can go higher?

Hi,I'd probably say it's 50% are limited to 4.5GHz and the other 50% can go able that.

Based on reading user reports on the web it does seem almost all 2500K and 2600K will hit at least 4.5GHz,I'd be surprised if only 50% do.With the 2500K and Intel MB under $400 total it's hard to resist.

50% of all Sandy Bridge chips are limited to a maximum clock of 4.5GHz on air cooling. The other 50% can go higher. Make sense?

50% of all Sandy Bridge chips are limited to a maximum clock of 4.5GHz on air cooling. The other 50% can go higher. Make sense?

Or the other 50% will not hit 4.5GHz.Make sense?

Or the other 50% will not hit 4.5GHz.Make sense?

That's not what it means, unless you don't speak English. 50% will hit 4.4-4.5GHz AT MOST, the other 50% will go higher. This isn't difficult.