New Intel Unlocked Processors to Debut at Computex

FrgMstr

FrgMstr

Just Plain Mean
Staff member
Joined
May 18, 1997
Messages
55,634
New Intel Unlocked Processors to Debut at Computex - Today we are getting a sneak peek at two new processors from Intel that are going to be officially launched at Computex next week. The Intel Core i5-655K and Core i7-875K processors are LGA 1156 parts that will not have multiplier locks. And that is a big deal for Intel. We show you what these processors are capable of.
 
Last edited:
I agree with what is said about Intel bus overclocking. Why bother with unlocking the multiplier? One thing that I'd look forward to is overclocking the processor using a combination of both the BCLK and multiplier. If that nets a better overclock than tweaking just the BCLK then I am all for it. That being said, I've got a feeling that the upper limit of reaching that sort of overclock is limited by heat anyway.
 
talk about the worst processors to pick to unlock.. why not use the i7 860 and unlock that one for lga-1156 or hell even the 930 with an unlocked multiplier for 1366 and then put a 50 dollar premium on them..

really all this does is benefit the novice overclocker for intel processors but at the same time it removes the headache of dealing with memory timing.. especially if your right at the edge of using ddr3 1600 or getting stuck having to run it at ddr3 1400 or 1500 because your ram wont run above ddr3 1600 due to the blk being raised.. but in all honesty i think they are to late to the show with these processors.. they should been released around the same time as the locked versions.. AMD still has the better business model with their locked and unlocked processors by leaving all the high end versions unlocked and not charging an insane premium for them either.. while leaving all the low end versions locked so theres no way to get confused about what your buying..
 
They should have chosen i3 530-540 as unlocked dual because those cheap are the only ones that might be even remotly affected by low BLCK on bad mobo.
 
I remember my first locked cpu, the athlon xp 1900+ @1.6Ghz. Me and my bro (largely him!) painted across something on the surface of the cpu to re-unlock the multiplier. The result: another 70mhz - I lolled.
 
I got all excited when I saw unlocked procs from Intel. Sadly I'm very disappointed by the ones they picked. If it had been an unlocked i5 750 I would be reconsidering getting an AMD build. I'm not a big overclocker, I don't usually like to mess with it but having an unlocked multiplier makes it easy for me to do without any real hassle. I like that, quite a bit.

In response to the talk about the days of unlocked procs. Really seems like ages ago what was the early 2000s when everything went locked? I remember all the tricks people would do with CPUs back then to unlock the multipliers. I almost took a soldering iron to my old Athlon 3800+ to unlock it, but decided against it. That was a very wise decision as I had no clue how to solder at the time and a new CPU wouldn't have exactly been cheap.
 
Perhaps this is Intel just test marketing the concept, giving the consumer another reason to look at a couple of CPUs that might not sell well. Also, Intel might still be worried about jackasses"remarking" Intel processors so will monitor what occurs the situation with a small, limited roll out of unlocked CPUs. Maybe a hint of more things to come in the future as we all would like seeing CPUs that are special and different in some way than the norm appear once in a while.

phenom-II-twkr-2.jpg
 
i was hoping to read about a overclock just a bit higher than normal. oh well neither of these will be on my list as my 860 just just as well for much cheaper. now bring me a cheaper 6 core and intel can have some of my money.
 
hey look no 1366 flavor besides the extreme. Good job intel you managed to completely ignore your high end market.
 
Sojuuk said:
hey look no 1366 flavor besides the extreme. Good job intel you managed to completely ignore your high end market.
Click to expand...

yeah this really cheeses me off. i want an unlocked CPU very badly but not at Extreme prices.
 
I got mine at $700 bucks only so don't feel too bad since they are just over 1000 bucks in Canada. I could have gone i7-980 route with 50 dollar extra but I didn't want to spend a 1000+ bucks on extreme processor. Now gotta save for Fermis now.
 
The 600 series unlocked processor is just begging to be "remarked" and sold to businesses with its integrated video. Is Intel trying to reprove their point?
 
When you tested the i7-875, which settings were enabled/disabled (eg. HT, Turbo, EIST, etc.)?

It's probably too soon to write off the K series, since it's apparent that the motherboard manufacturers have some homework to do on their end.
 
grossebeaver said:
When you tested the i7-875, which settings were enabled/disabled (eg. HT, Turbo, EIST, etc.)?

It's probably too soon to write off the K series, since it's apparent that the motherboard manufacturers have some homework to do on their end.
Click to expand...

We leave on HT, turn off Turbo EIST and everything else that has to do with any kind of power saving or clock scaling.


I think the success of the K series fully lies in Intel's hands in what model processors it decides to unlock.
 
Looking at other review sites seems like everyone is coming down to the same conclusion. Money grab for the less informed, but hey that's business right? At least it isn't being gimped.
 
I'll echo the sentiments of many here, and say that this wasn't what I expected when I read the title of the article. I was really hoping for a 935X, but sadly, that isn't the case. Hopefully they'll add a LGA1366 part to the line up.
 
Where the crap are the 1366 unlocked chips? why ignore your "enthusiast" socket with something that is most certainly an "enthusiast" feature?
 
I really have a hankering for a Phenom X6 chip. For 200 bucks can you really touch this value with an unlocked intel chip?
 
"oops we forgot to lock this batch of CPUs"
"wohoo marketing opportunity!"
 
Let's put out super duper overclocking chips like the I7 9x0 series and not unlock them except those at "extreme prices".

Then, let's make overclock UNfriendly unlocked chips that suck power at a higher rate than our flagships when OC'd and call them "special".

Manic depressive market releases defined. K=Knocked out of the midrange.

I'll stick with my plan to get the 1090T methinks.
 
"give me a Core i5-750 that is unlocked and I will be happy all day long with that for $200"

Actually I'd prefer my Core i7-860 from MicroCenter for $200
 
its interesting and all, but I'd steer clear unless there is an unlocked Core i7 900 series. These lack the PCIe lanes I would need for a multi GPU setup. My i7-920 with Asus P6T is quite nice. I get 4GHz out of it easily, with only core voltage adjustments, and I get dual x16 slots and an extra x4 slot.

These are just lackluster without the right PCIe lane setup.
 
nutzo said:
"give me a Core i5-750 that is unlocked and I will be happy all day long with that for $200"

Actually I'd prefer my Core i7-860 from MicroCenter for $200
Click to expand...

Actually, I prefer my Core i7-920 from MicroCenter for $200 that goes at 4GHz with no effort and has the capability to run 2 x16 video card slots or even triple SLi/Crossfire.
 
Why release unlocked CPUs on a socket that doesn't really have any life left in it?
Both of the current sockets are being replaced by the end of the year.
Why not focus on the high end 1366 socket and finish it with a bang?
How about a 6 core i920/930 locked for $350, unlocked for $450?

I guess it's just the semi-normal intel way. First version is meh (to test market interest), second version is kick ass.
 
when a 6 core xeon/980x still costs $1k they aren't going to release a $300-$400 dollar 6 core for probably 6 months. i wish there was a overclockable 6 core at that price point though. i am more interested in a ~$500 overclockable 6 core smp capable xeon.
 
I would only see value if future intel chips had blck problems as reported either here at hardocp and early adopters before I purchased.

With my i7 930, I am easily able to overclock it to 21x200=4.2ghz (vcore 1.325v) and also my mushkin 3x2gb 998679 ram from stock at 7,8,7,20 1T to 6,7,6,18 1T @ 1600 (vtt 1.30v and vdimm 1.66v).

Why would I pay more if I can get a 50% overclock like said above? I wouldn't pay a dime more than the $199 I paid at MC. I guess that is the point of the article - I would only consider buying if increasing blck was a problem in the future.
 
rflcptr said:
Looks like fanboy fun has already begun:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16819116368

:p
Click to expand...

I love the newegg "tech level" too. Everyone on that site claims to be either 'high" or "very high" as a kite maybe, but in terms of knowledge... I would wager the majority of these people don't even have AHCI turned on. Infact I'd wager most of these people have never done anything in bios more involved than changing boot priority (and even thats a 10 minute job for em).

Newegg's always the worst for customer reviews. It wouldn't bother me except for the fact that people who buy stuff from me sometimes quote these people like they're gurus.
 
"I am very happy to see Intel selling unlocked processors again, very much so. I am really not sure why I am happy about it though. I think maybe it is just the old overclocker yearning for days gone by, or maybe I am happy about seeing Intel putting "UNLOCKED" on the box giving a secret nod to the real enthusiasts that are responsible for suggesting people buy its products."

I'm pretty sure Intel's pretty happy about selling more procerssors to replace those that get burned by the overclocking, too! ;) Kind of a win-win for everyone, right? (Have we checked the terms of the warranties that come with these bad boys?)
 
I hope that this is a sign of "bigger and better" things to come from Intel. I just hope that "affordable" is added to the equation as well.
 
A lot of upset people it seems. I guess you can't please everyone :p. I see the selection of cpu's to unlocked as an attempt to cater to a wider range of consumer. The 875 was clearly targeted at AMD's 6 core parts as it the unlocked version will be priced within the same range. If taking this approach prooves to be successful for Intel, they may release more unlocked parts down the road. I see an unlocked i7 930 however as never happening. It's already has great OC potential right out of the box & is the hottest selling i7 cpu currently on the market. So happy wishing there. If anything, it'll be a higher priced i7 part that isn't selling as well that will have an unlocked version introduced.
 
The 870's cost $580 and the 875's cost $350 and this is bad how? Seems like a pretty good deal to me. I'm just saying that's what I see on the egg for prices.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top