IB is better, as long as you're willing to cut the lid off and replace the TIM. There is no question about this. FSXMark 11 results demonstrate this. SB can sometimes OC higher, but at a 7% IPC deficit compared to IB you need a 5.35GHz+ SB to match a 5GHz IB. Anyone here running a 5.35GHz SB (other than Hasse, who also runs IB @ 5.2GHz so it's a moot point anyway)? Didn't think so.

 

Edit: forgive me if my bluntness is perceived as being rude, it's just that I keep seeing this idea around the forum and it's not entirely accurate, IMHO.

 

SB is great, so is IB. It's not a night and day difference, but newer technology is *usually* better and therefore worth buying compared to older technology. It's sad that we have to go to the effort of popping the cap off of IB to fix the heat issue, but it is a solvable problem and it's a pretty quick and easy procedure so I don't see it as being a huge barrier. Granted, I've de-lidded 4 IB CPUs personally so my perspective is quite different than practically everyone else on the planet but my experience which I've shared is meant to help those on the fence.

IB is better, as long as you're willing to cut the lid off and replace the TIM. There is no question about this. FSXMark 11 results demonstrate this. SB can sometimes OC higher, but at a 7% IPC deficit compared to IB you need a 5.35GHz+ SB to match a 5GHz IB. Anyone here running a 5.35GHz SB (other than Hasse, who also runs IB @ 5.2GHz so it's a moot point anyway)? Didn't think so.

 

Edit: forgive me if my bluntness is perceived as being rude, it's just that I keep seeing this idea around the forum and it's not entirely accurate, IMHO.

 

SB is great, so is IB. It's not a night and day difference, but newer technology is *usually* better and therefore worth buying compared to older technology. It's sad that we have to go to the effort of popping the cap off of IB to fix the heat issue, but it is a solvable problem and it's a pretty quick and easy procedure so I don't see it as being a huge barrier. Granted, I've de-lidded 4 IB CPUs personally so my perspective is quite different than practically everyone else on the planet but my experience which I've shared is meant to help those on the fence.

 

That's exactly what I said previously. But this voids your warranty.

IB is better, as long as you're willing to cut the lid off and replace the TIM.

 

That right there. That's the point.

But let's put into perspective: 5.0-5.2 on 2700K with air is realistic. 4.6-4.7 with an IB on air is heroic. I didn't say differences are huge, but they are there. Same as a discussion about how important are 7%...

That's exactly what I said previously. But this voids your warranty.

 

All respect to your post, but honestly, how many times do you ever even need to use the 'warranty' provided by Intel?!

 

That right there. That's the point.

But let's put into perspective: 5.0-5.2 on 2700K with air is realistic. 4.6-4.7 with an IB on air is heroic. I didn't say differences are huge, but they are there. Same as a discussion about how important are 7%...

 

Frankly, if you are OC'ing beyond 4.3-4.5GHZ on SB OR IB, I don't think you should even be using air cooling.

 

Compact water coolers are much more practical these days... H60, H80, H100 etc...

De-libbing can damage the CPU, and then you're left without an warranty. Plus, I don't think everyone can do something like this.

De-libbing can damage the CPU, and then you're left without an warranty. Plus, I don't think everyone can do something like this.

 

It does void the warranty, that is true. Then again, so does overclocking, unless you buy Intel's extended overclocking warranty.

 

As for damaging the CPU, I've done 4 successfully without issue. It's a very straight-forward, simple procedure that anyone with a razor blade and the confidence to hold it steady can do. So if you have a disease that makes this difficult or lack the confidence to do it, yeah, you could damage it. Otherwise, take it slow and read a guide online and you'll be fine.

I don't think you should even be using air cooling.

 

Compact water coolers are much more practical these days... H60, H80, H100 etc...

 

Sorry Ben, with watercooling I mean custom watercooling... everything below is kind of like an air, just with some muscles :)

But you are right, H100 is better than any other cheap air cooler.

That right there. That's the point.

But let's put into perspective: 5.0-5.2 on 2700K with air is realistic. 4.6-4.7 with an IB on air is heroic. I didn't say differences are huge, but they are there. Same as a discussion about how important are 7%...

 

I think you exaggerate when you say that "5.0-5.2 on 2700K with air is realistic", because I don't see any examples of this here. You run your chip at 4.8GHz. I run mine at 4.9GHz and am in the process of pushing it up to 5.0 or higher. Either one of our systems are going to run FSX wonderfully, but if you want to turn on the FPS meter I've got a solid 10%+ advantage.

As for damaging the CPU, I've done 4 successfully without issue. It's a very straight-forward, simple procedure that anyone with a razor blade and the confidence to hold it steady can do. So if you have a disease that makes this difficult or lack the confidence to do it, yeah, you could damage it. Otherwise, take it slow and read a guide online and you'll be fine.

 

OK, but the question is, can the OP can? He is the one who takes recommendations.

Mine can do 5.0. But my mobo becomes unstable. Also temps are least of my problems. This is why I am thinking a good 2700K should do over 5.0 or at least 5.0 on air without problems.

a good 2700K should do over 5.0 or at least 5.0 on air without problems.

 

I have a relatively 'good' chip. Honestly, hitting 5GHZ is still a bit of a challenge even for my chip.

OK, but the question is, can the OP can? He is the one who takes recommendations.

 

I can't say what anyone other than myself is capable of, but again I can tell you from my (comparably) extensive first-hand experience on the matter that it is a very simple procedure. There is risk involved, undoubtedly, but if you are careful and go slowly the risk is virtually zero.

I can't say what anyone other than myself is capable of, but again I can tell you from my (comparably) extensive first-hand experience on the matter that it is a very simple procedure. There is risk involved, undoubtedly, but if you are careful and go slowly the risk is virtually zero.

 

There's always the chance of an accident though.

 

Let's wait for the OP's answer and then we make more recommendations.

There's always the chance of an accident though.

 

Let's wait for the OP's answer and then we make more recommendations.

 

Just as there is with flying in an aircraft, driving a car, walking down the street, going out in the sun, and literally everything else in life. It's a matter of weighing the risk to reward ratio. In this case, the risk is low, and the reward is high. I can understand if not everyone wants to do it just for the fact that it voids the warranty, but I really can't overstate the simplicity of the operation and just how low the risk is if done right.

I'll just wait for the next gen CPUs :rolleyes: