Conclusion

With Sandy Bridge Intel not only shows new CPUs they also introduce their new socket 1155. Furthermore Intel also seems to have overworked the memory controller. With the Core i7 2600K is was possible to run our Kingston memory at 2'133 MHz absolutely stable. As a consequence the system performed better by quite a margin. Generally Intel did a lot regarding efficiency which results in more performance per MHz. Also TurboBoost has been overworked. But this time it was Intels intention to make this feature more flexible that it for example also supports the integrated graphics core.

The new Core i7 2600K as well as the Core i5 2500K almost dominate the quad core CPUs we've tested so far. Therefore the Core i7 2600K can even outperform a Core i7 975XE. Of course looking at memory bandwidth the P67 platform with 1'333 MHz DDR3 memory is slower than the triple channel X58. But on the other hand if you own memory which allow you to set 2'133 MHz Sandy Bridge can even outperform a triple Channel interface. If you're looking for some further evidence that Sandy Bridges performance per MHz has been increased you can look at the SuperPi results. There you can clearly see that Core i7 2600K as well as Core i5 2500K are in another league.

Especially astonishing is the fact that Core i7 2600K as well as Core i5 2500K both are mid range CPUs. Intel recommended USD 317 for the Core i7 2600K and USD 216 for the Core i5 2500K which makes both of these CPUs exceptionally good value for money.

Intels Core i7 2600K as well as Core i5 2500K definitely are upgrades compared to their Lynnfield predecessors. If you should already own memory which can achieve very high clock speeds you'll do everything right in buying a P67 platform. Generally we can recommend Sandy Bridge CPUs equally for HTPCs as well as gaming systems one can even find a Sandy Bridge based CPU which suites an office PCs needs. Therefore the high end market has been the only segment which has not been upgraded with the release of these CPUs. High end can still rely on the Core i7 980X six core CPU.