Intel set to release Core i5-2550K quad-core unlocked CPU

Shawn Knight

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Intel is planning to release another Sandy Bridge CPU before Ivy Bridge is launched next year. The Core i5-2550K will feature an unlocked clock multiplier and four CPU cores, according to an investigative report from CPU World.

A new entry in the Material Declaration Data Sheets database revealed the BX80623I52550K box part number, CM8062301213000 OEM part number and SR0QH S-spec code. Because the part was just recently added to the database and the i5-2550K isn’t on Intel’s roadmap, it is believed that the decision to launch this processor was only recently made.

Aside from a slightly higher default clock speed, likely 3.4GHz, the chip will be functionally identical to a Core i5-2500K with the aforementioned unlocked multiplier, HD 3000 graphics, 6MB of L3 cache, Turbo Boost support and a 95 watt TDP. One could speculate that the 2550K will be priced slightly higher than existing 2500K models and perhaps overclock higher based on better binning.

No launch date or price has been issued yet but the CPU will likely drop around the same time as the next round of AMD FX-Series CPUs are released. Perhaps Intel didn’t get the recent memo from AMD spokesperson Mike Silverman when he went on record with the San Jose Mercury News proclaiming that AMD is no longer trying to compete with Intel. Either way, more products on the market at different price points means more options for the end user.

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still gonna wait for teh ivy bridge, that is assuming that the new i5s will be the same price as the current.
 
Only 6MB cache is the reason many gamers go with a 2600K/2700K.

Nope.
If you're buying primarily for gaming then the 2600K/2700K makes little sense, and since the vast majority of games aren't cache constrained you would find that the principle differences between the 2500K and 2600K are minimal. More so when you take into account that many 2600K/2700K owners disable HT when overclocking...the main reason that anyone would opt for a "K" version.

The larger cache (and HT) are more applicable to content creation, productivity and synthetics.

A couple of head-to-head evaluations
[Tech Report]
[Tom's Hardware]
[Bit-tech]
And, of course if L3 was a dominant differentiator in gaming, wouldn't it stand to reason that a 3960X with 15MB of L3 should crush a 6MB 2500K ? Whereas in reality you need to present a corner case ( compute heavy) to show only a fractional advantage...
[Anand]
 
""""""More so when you take into account that many 2600K/2700K owners disable HT when overclocking...the main reason that anyone would opt for a "K" version.
" """

You are so wrong, K is unlocked version as in unlocked multiplier although it is true that most disable hyperthreading, the K does not denote that function is availiable.

The 2550k seems to be fairly useless I dont really see the point so agree with most of post.
 
""""""More so when you take into account that many 2600K/2700K owners disable HT when overclocking...the main reason that anyone would opt for a "K" version.
You are so wrong, K is unlocked version as in unlocked multiplier although it is true that most disable hyperthreading, the K does not denote that function is availiable.

I thought the post was self explanatory.

The 2550k seems to be fairly useless I dont really see the point
Obviously.
The point is, that for a small change in CPUID, Intel gets free publicity (reviews) to reinforce what most people already know...namely that the 2500K/2550K represents the best bang-for-the-buck/best performance per watt in most commonly used apps and gaming in particular. It also serves to diminish further (if possible) Bulldozers claim as a gaming CPU, since I would expect all non-AMD centric reviewers to use the FX-8xxx for direct comparison due to pricing and market segment.
 
The 2700K doesnt even have hyper threading. Only the 2600K has HT. As another poster said, the K has nothing to do with HT, it just denotes that the model has an unlocked multiplier, meaning better overclocking.
 
As stated previously the 2550 will most likely have higher binning similar to the 2700 allowing a higher overclock. Stock voltage will sometimes be lower as well giving more headroom there as well.
 
According to Intel's ARK the new 2550k does not have onboard graphics. . . . So options to overclock the bclk? This might be the next perfect overclocker chip
 
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