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Good Preview of Sandy Bridge with Benchmarks

I was just thinking of commenting on this. Actually, I've been wanting to move to a Mac Pro from my current iMac, but if Apple actually put those chips in their next iMac...the next one would once again basically SMASH the Mac Pro in terms of price performance ratio. In fact, it would basically smash the PERFORMANCE period. Even the hex core potentially? Those early samples are essentially tied, and are underclocked versions of...the low end.

Kinda makes me think a Mac Pro is a giant waste of money now unless you absolutely NEED the internal storage options and the graphics...I am far from "satisfied" with the sealed up nature of the iMac, but when you look at those numbers...I mean come on...
 
Tomorrow is the last day that my exchange period ends on my 17" i7 macbook pro and I was very close in exchanging it for the 3.2GHz Mac Pro or even the 6 core. BUT now, I'm going to wait until Sandy Bridge and just happily use my 17" until then. :D

Sandy Bridge looks very interesting. USB 3.0 and PCI-e 3.0 should be coming along with Sandy Bridge making the Mac Pro even more future proof. :)
 
And of course there will be something right around the corner after Sandy Bridge. Point being, if you need a computer now, get it. You will always be waiting if you want that next level of performance. It's all just measurebating.
 
sboerup said:
And of course there will be something right around the corner after Sandy Bridge. Point being, if you need a computer now, get it. You will always be waiting if you want that next level of performance. It's all just measurebating.
Click to expand...

Great insight, thanks! I thought Sandy Bridge was going to be the last architecture upgrade ever. Since it's not, there is absolutely no need to discuss it.

/Thread closed
 
I'm gonna wait for the one coming after the sandy bridge AKA the handy bridge, that one is going to turbo boost all the way upto 10GHz!!! :p
 
sboerup said:
And of course there will be something right around the corner after Sandy Bridge. Point being, if you need a computer now, get it. You will always be waiting if you want that next level of performance. It's all just measurebating.
Click to expand...

:p

Nehalem came out in...wait for it....2008. And is still basically at the top of the performance crown.

Sandy Bridge is mere months away, and will of course be an architecture that's around for years. An iMac in six months that is stronger than the Mac Pros that were just released is an enticing thing.
 
Well I guess I know when I will be upgrading!

Sandy Bridge looks good. Quad channel memory will make the boards we have more useful.

And 16 cores sounds good as well!
 
f1restarter said:
I'm gonna wait for the one coming after the sandy bridge AKA the handy bridge, that one is going to turbo boost all the way upto 10GHz!!! :p
Click to expand...

Ivy Bridge will come after Sandy Bridge though it's just a die shrink of SB. The next micro-architecture after SB is going to Haswell. We haven't seen any faster clock speeds for years, there were Pentiums at 3.8GHz back in 2004 and now the fastest Intel CPU is 3.86GHz with Turbo (i5-680). Cores are the future, the 4GHz barrier hasn't been broken yet.

That article concentrates on mainstream chips so we still have to wait for LGA 2011 info but SB is looking very promising, especially the IGP
 
This only proves that waiting is pointless. Buy now and enjoy the machine as I can't imagine myself waiting 1,5 years for 10-20% speed increase.
 
sandy bridge isn't even released yet, it could still take a year before you see it show up in computers...next question is: when will it show up in Macs? We all know Apple is probably the last one who is going to switch to SB, it took 500+ days to update the macpro, and what a disappointment that was/is. Yet you guys are talking about a CPU that isn't even on the market yet lol.

keep dreaming, you wont see the use of sandy bridge in Macs until 2012 at the earliest. Apple wouldn't be Apple if they couldn't rip you of so what they will do is keep the outdated machines with outdated CPU's in rotation till they milked that cow dry so they take more than 50% profit on the machines since Apple never does a price increase . Only then will they switch to SB.

best example is the 2009 mac pro, after 500+ days the machines still had the same price tag as when they were released...charging 4000$ for a macpro when in reality it should have had a 2000$ price tag (60$ graphics card and 300$ Cpu's...what a joke that was)

Apple has become a major rip-off company and its going to stay that way for the future to come...why? because obviously they seem to get away with it.
 
the editor said:
sandy bridge isn't even released yet, it could still take a year before you see it show up in computers...
Click to expand...

Maybe for LGA 2011 parts but LGA 1155 parts are being released late this year so they will be available early next year at the latest.

keep dreaming you wont see the use of sandy bridge in Macs untill 2012 at the earliest.
Click to expand...

Maybe Mac Pro but there are other Macs which will very likely use Sandy Bridge in early 2011.
 
I wouldnt be surprised if Apple updated the Mac Pros earlier to Sandy Bridge this time instead of the recent 2008 Nehalem --> 2010 Nehalem/Westmere.

It seems that just this time around Apple was hesitant to upgrade to the Westmere or took their sweet time. I'm sure it has something to do with half the lineup still being the old Nehalem.

Honestly, I dont see any difference in the new lineup as to the old lineup (except the 6/12 cores which I'm sure people who are pegging every core will appreciate).

The reason why I passed on the 3.2GHz Nehalem is because it didnt feel like a worthy update/upgrade. I could have bought the 3.33GHz (although cost more of course) but Nehalem is still Nehalem.

Only the 6 core felt like the worthy upgrade/worth it to me. But since I did get the 17" mbp, I'll just use it until Sandy Bridge is out with the pci-e 3.0 and usb 3.0 (pretty sure both of these will be implemented in SB).

I would say the best bang for buck ratio right now would be the 2.8GHz QUAD with the ati 5870. I've been looking at benchmarks for the 3.2GHz vs. the 2.8GHz and its very negligible.
 
The 2010 Mac Pro is basically a 2009 Mac Pro with some new CPU, memory, and drive options. But the underlying technology is basically over a year old. With a simple firmware update to the 2009 models, you can have all of the same options available for last year's Mac Pro and probably hit the same benchmarks. I'm hearing that "sandy bridge" will usher in a whole new platform, and that will definitely be worth switching for if you need raw performance.

With that said, a 2009 Quad is basically a 2010 Hexacore with two fewer cores. For 90% of the applications out there, there will be no difference in performance. If you see a good price on a 2009, I would snap it up and wait for Sandy Bridge. The 2009 platform was brand new for "Nehalem", the 2010 is essentially the same platform and therefore an interim solution until the next major platform change next year. People said the 2009s were a bad deal, but considering the 2010s are nothing more than 2009s with slightly changed accessories, it's the 2010 that I think is a bad deal. The 2010 Mac Pro is riding on the coattails of the 2009, as it is basically the same hardware, and is a stop-gap product until 2011.
 
Sandy Bridge means single-chip Mac Mini, MacBook, and MacBook Pros in the future

Anandtech's review indicates that Intel is putting in some very earnest efforts. Sandy Bridge integrated graphics performance isn't a joke. In fact, it's probably *at least* on par with the nVidia 320M.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/3871/the-sandy-bridge-preview-three-wins-in-a-row

With general CPU performance for the new 32nm-process chips seeming to be ~20% improvement over existing processors, it's very clear that mobile variants of Sandy Bridge will be making its way into future Macs quickly.

-----

What this also means is Apple can eliminate the current 2-chip solution for the Mac Mini, MacBook, and MacBook Pros equipped with the current nVidia 320M -- remember, Sandy Bridge is like Nehalem in which the Northbridge is on the CPU die. A single-chip solution will cut costs by reducing overall complexity and the size of the PCB, in addition to reducing the number of parts (chips aren't cheap!). It could also allow for even smaller form factors since there will be one less high-temp component, simplifying cooling considerations. Battery life should further improve, or batteries can actually shrink -- reducing size and weight even further.

For those that like their discrete graphics, there are Sandy Bridge processors that lack an integrated GPU. If Intel/Apple can manage a hybrid mode similar to how the 320M/330M works currently, that's another notable win.
 
Holy smokes - looks like Intel really got their act together!

24417.png


If this is the performance compared to ATI 5450 for pre-release hardware and pre-release software, it is definitely going to be tough for anyone to argue putting another nVidia or ATI IGP or a discrete card for that matter on lower end systems like the Macbook Pro 13" and 15" models.

And you say there will be SB CPUs without an integrated GPU - I haven't read the article fully but sounds like if that's the case, it's a win-win for everyone. Wonder how much of this is due to recent Intel settlement with FTC.
 
VirtualRain said:
I know people are just getting their Westmere's in hand, but Anand has a great preview of the upcoming Sandy Bridge microarchitecture...
Click to expand...

Actually, much more volume there on the graphics than the microarch.

From article....
Original Nehalem and Gulftown owners have their own socket replacement to look forward to. In the second half of 2011 Intel will replace LGA-1366 with LGA-2011. LGA-2011 adds support for four DDR3 memory channels and the first 6+ core Sandy Bridge processors.
Click to expand...

1. No new Mac Pro before second half of 2011.
2. Folks can stop moaning about 4 DIMMs slots because that is the natural number to have.

Likely to get a southbridge with PCI-e v2.0 level speeds ( so adding USB 3.0 doesn't clog bandwidth elsewhere.). However, with this schedule look like iMac will get update a couple of months before Mac Pro does. There will be much moaning and groaning as high end iMacs temporarily leapfrong low end Mac Pros.


Second half 2011 should possibly allow for an update of a PCI-e only Northbridge (5520/X58 like chipset) to move to PCI-e v3.0 too. Maybe not though since the workstation/server market needs more lead time than desktop market for testing. Depends upon when Intel intends to start sampling these updates.

We'll see whether the GPU transistors in the desktop models get thrown more so at cores (nominal 8) or at bigger/faster L3 cache ( 6 cores with more on die memory slightly higher cranked clock speeds than it target 8 cores. )
 
jjahshik32 said:
I wouldnt be surprised if Apple updated the Mac Pros earlier to Sandy Bridge this time instead of the recent 2008 Nehalem --> 2010 Nehalem/Westmere.
Click to expand...

Think mean 2009 --> 2010.

Given that the Sandy Bridge versions of chips Apple is going to use in the Mac Pro are due till 2nd half of 2011.... that's wouldn't be surprising. It is a "pay me now or pay me later" delay. You either deliver on a 12 month cycle in 2010 and take at 15-16 cycles in 2011 or you flip those. It is very likley that Apple flipped them. They couldn't update the 2011 Mac Pro before June-Aug timeframe anyway even had launched a new Mac Pro earlier this year.

Later this fall there will be the following things that design team can actually work with then so that product could be delivered next year this time:

PCI-e v3.0 standard should reach passing state. (starting any earlier wouldn't do nothing if not somewhat commit to v2.0 based design. )

Should be more USB 3.0 controller chip options to choose from. (pragmatically only one now and it isn't super high throughput. )

Lightpeak controller chips should be out.

Not saying that all three are guaranteed to get in but there is little chance they would if the design for 2011 started earlier this year. The parts just wouldn't have been there even in pre-production sampling states. Apple tends to be pretty conservative and uses parts with some kind of track record (minimally in the lab, if not deployed by other vendors. )
 
TennisandMusic said:
:p

Nehalem came out in...wait for it....2008. And is still basically at the top of the performance crown.

Sandy Bridge is mere months away, and will of course be an architecture that's around for years. An iMac in six months that is stronger than the Mac Pros that were just released is an enticing thing.
Click to expand...

Will Sandy Bridge also be released for the pros at the same time as the imacs?
 
the editor said:
sandy bridge isn't even released yet, it could still take a year before you see it show up in computers...next question is: when will it show up in Macs? We all know Apple is probably the last one who is going to switch to SB, it took 500+ days to update the macpro, and what a disappointment that was/is. Yet you guys are talking about a CPU that isn't even on the market yet lol.

keep dreaming, you wont see the use of sandy bridge in Macs until 2012 at the earliest. Apple wouldn't be Apple if they couldn't rip you of so what they will do is keep the outdated machines with outdated CPU's in rotation till they milked that cow dry so they take more than 50% profit on the machines since Apple never does a price increase . Only then will they switch to SB.

best example is the 2009 mac pro, after 500+ days the machines still had the same price tag as when they were released...charging 4000$ for a macpro when in reality it should have had a 2000$ price tag (60$ graphics card and 300$ Cpu's...what a joke that was)

Apple has become a major rip-off company and its going to stay that way for the future to come...why? because obviously they seem to get away with it.
Click to expand...
I see Sandy Bridge in the MacBooks, MacBook Pros, MacBook Airs (if they get updated), Mac Minis and the iMac by mid 2011, OTOH LGA 2011 chips come out in late 1011 so don't expect anything before then, but before 2011 ends we should see the Mac Pro update
AZREOSpecialist said:
The 2010 Mac Pro is basically a 2009 Mac Pro with some new CPU, memory, and drive options. But the underlying technology is basically over a year old. With a simple firmware update to the 2009 models, you can have all of the same options available for last year's Mac Pro and probably hit the same benchmarks. I'm hearing that "sandy bridge" will usher in a whole new platform, and that will definitely be worth switching for if you need raw performance.

With that said, a 2009 Quad is basically a 2010 Hexacore with two fewer cores. For 90% of the applications out there, there will be no difference in performance. If you see a good price on a 2009, I would snap it up and wait for Sandy Bridge. The 2009 platform was brand new for "Nehalem", the 2010 is essentially the same platform and therefore an interim solution until the next major platform change next year. People said the 2009s were a bad deal, but considering the 2010s are nothing more than 2009s with slightly changed accessories, it's the 2010 that I think is a bad deal. The 2010 Mac Pro is riding on the coattails of the 2009, as it is basically the same hardware, and is a stop-gap product until 2011.
Click to expand...
Sandy Bridge is a new architecture, Westmere was just moving from 45 nanometre process to 32 nanometre process
New CPU, GPU, Memory and Drives do make an upgrade
yes, they are basically the same chips with more cores
deconstruct60 said:
Actually, much more volume there on the graphics than the microarch.

From article....


1. No new Mac Pro before second half of 2011.
2. Folks can stop moaning about 4 DIMMs slots because that is the natural number to have.

Likely to get a southbridge with PCI-e v2.0 level speeds ( so adding USB 3.0 doesn't clog bandwidth elsewhere.). However, with this schedule look like iMac will get update a couple of months before Mac Pro does. There will be much moaning and groaning as high end iMacs temporarily leapfrong low end Mac Pros.


Second half 2011 should possibly allow for an update of a PCI-e only Northbridge (5520/X58 like chipset) to move to PCI-e v3.0 too. Maybe not though since the workstation/server market needs more lead time than desktop market for testing. Depends upon when Intel intends to start sampling these updates.

We'll see whether the GPU transistors in the desktop models get thrown more so at cores (nominal 8) or at bigger/faster L3 cache ( 6 cores with more on die memory slightly higher cranked clock speeds than it target 8 cores. )
Click to expand...
it would be the first non-crap Intel IGP so it is a big deal
We aren't getting USB 3.0, however we will probably get Light Peak with Ivy Bridge


davelanger said:
Will Sandy Bridge also be released for the pros at the same time as the imacs?
Click to expand...
no, Mac Pros are coming no earlier than mid 2011 (that's when the chips come)
 
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