SPCR

NewEgg has the Ivy Bridge Pentium G2120 in stock. But at $99.99 it doesn't seem worth it when for just $30 more there is the $129.99 i3-3220.

It all depends what you're trying to do. We use Pentiums in our entry level servers, as for a NAS-type box they're more than enough and the extra $30 would be better spent on RAM, or saved. Again, for an entry-level office PC that's just going to be running Word, Outlook and a browser, why spend the extra. Yes the price difference isn't that much, but why spend it if you don't need to? Intel already have enough money!

Delta_42 wrote:It all depends what you're trying to do. We use Pentiums in our entry level servers, as for a NAS-type box they're more than enough and the extra $30 would be better spent on RAM, or saved. Again, for an entry-level office PC that's just going to be running Word, Outlook and a browser, why spend the extra. Yes the price difference isn't that much, but why spend it if you don't need to? Intel already have enough money!

I agree. Then again, if you really don't need the power, then why not just go with the Sandy Bridge Celeron for $35?
http://microcenter.com/product/398335/C ... _Processor

I'm still considering building a system with that part. Just so tempting. But the rest of the system costs $$$ too.

Incidentally, MicroCenter's price of the i3-3225 has dropped $10 already since I bought it. It is now only $119.99 which is only $10 more than the i3-3220. So basically $10 upgrades you from HD 2500 to HD 4000. Crazy.

We considered using the Celerons, but the low-voltage CPUs proved tricky to source.

The Ivy Bridge CPUs do bring one huge advantage for our servers though... ECC support on the Pentiums and i3s. Now even our most basic systems can use ECC memory without needing to splash for a Xeon.

toronado455 wrote: Incidentally, MicroCenter's price of the i3-3225 has dropped $10 already since I bought it. It is now only $119.99 which is only $10 more than the i3-3220. So basically $10 upgrades you from HD 2500 to HD 4000. Crazy.

It's actually only $80 with motherboard purchase.

Delta_42 wrote: The Ivy Bridge CPUs do bring one huge advantage for our servers though... ECC support on the Pentiums and i3s. Now even our most basic systems can use ECC memory without needing to splash for a Xeon.

Interesting, do you need a special motherboard?

Delta_42 wrote:The Ivy Bridge CPUs do bring one huge advantage for our servers though... ECC support on the Pentiums and i3s. Now even our most basic systems can use ECC memory without needing to splash for a Xeon.

The Sandy Bridge Celerons and Pentiums also support ECC with a server chipset. The i3s are debatable, Intel says no but some server manufactures say yes.

Basically if there is no "equivalent" Xeon then the Sandy/Ivy bridge CPUs mostly support ECC. The i5s and i7s have Xeon equivalents so ECC is disabled on those no matter what.

Luke M wrote: Interesting, do you need a special motherboard?

Yes, you need a motherboard with a C2XX chipset.

washu wrote:

Delta_42 wrote:The Ivy Bridge CPUs do bring one huge advantage for our servers though... ECC support on the Pentiums and i3s. Now even our most basic systems can use ECC memory without needing to splash for a Xeon.

The Sandy Bridge Celerons and Pentiums also support ECC with a server chipset. The i3s are debatable, Intel says no but some server manufactures say yes.

Basically if there is no "equivalent" Xeon then the Sandy/Ivy bridge CPUs mostly support ECC. The i5s and i7s have Xeon equivalents so ECC is disabled on those no matter what.

Good of Intel to list that fact in the product specs... When it comes to ECC support Ark doesn't say one way or the other for SB, but says 'yes' for IB. It makes sense that the CPUs officially supported by the C20x chipsets would all support ECC.