I have waited 2 months to be able to test this CPU, and I was finally able to procure a motherboard to be able to test everything out. I spent all weekend testing everything and will update this review as the items are tested along the way.
Temperature: It gets hot incredibly fast. If I run a stress test, the moment I engage the test, it jumps to 55 at stock speeds with no boost. If I overclock, the jump becomes greater as expected. I have been able to run 4.5ghz, at 1.375v with heat being the only issue. The watercooling look consists of a 360mm radiator and a 240mm radiator dedicated to the CPU, with an EK Supremacy EVO waterblock. Liquid Temperatures are at 25c maximum. The waterblock makes great contact in the direct center of the IHS, but only in a small area about the size of pencil eraser. Outside of that area the thermal material seems to thicken very fast making me wonder if the block of the IHS is slightly concave/convex. I will get a piece of glass and test this asap.
Overclock: Very very easy to overclock. the motherboard of choice was able to use auto voltage to maintain a 4.5ghz clock speed with 1.4v. This was too high, so setting the voltage as low as 1.375 had a perfectly stable 4.5ghz overclock. 1.34v maintains a 4.4ghz OC no issue at all. *addition* made it to
Ring Overcock: Seems to not like being overclocked so far. Definitely a downside, as this is the part that will help boost physics scores while benchmarking and testing. *addition* overclocked to 4.1 ghz with the new motherboard. Very easy to do, helps all around. The old motherboard was the issue.
Speed: 8 cores accomplishes a lot of work, and does so with NO lag at all. While stress testing the CPU, dragging windows and continuing to surf the web as well as opening other programs, lag is nowhere to be found.
4 Stars. I am currently holding it at 4 stars, because I want to verify if the water block or the IHS is flat. If it is the IHS, then I will send the CPU back and get a new one sent out. IF it is the water block, I will get the manufacturer to replace it and I will correct my review with an update as to the outcome of the test.
---------------------------------------------------------Jan 1 2015------------------------------------------------------------
*EDIT/Addition* I am bumping the review to 5 Stars. The IHS is flat. I have been using this CPU for almost 3 full months on a daily basis and it is quite impressive. Everything is stable overclocked, although I did not get a "Golden" chip that would run 4.5ghz on low 1.3v or anything like that. I have used it for some mild rendering, bench marking and editing and it is insanely fast with the core count and ability to overclock so well. The CPU can Benchmarks at 4.65ghz at 1.4v and run fully stable, but it isn't able to be fully stable for normal operations, rendering and things like. it is at a daily 4.4ghz at 1.37v staying under 60c with a custom water loop and a 480mm radiator with the fans set at low. I have switched from the original configuration above(if you couldn't tell). During heavy loads, the fans only need to go up for approximately 50% to keep everything cool.
Beware, with 8 core and insufficient cooling, this CPU will get to critical temperatures in a matter of seconds. The IHS is soldered to the CPU, so delidding is not a viable option (although some have tried). Using an Air Cooler is not recommended. Using a small AIO cooler like an H55 will allow you to run at stock or very mild overclocks. Running with an AIO 220/240mm radiator will allow more headroom, but this CPU will shine under custom water cooling or better (phase change and higher priced items). If you spend $1000 on a CPU and try to use a HyperEvo 212, you are asking to waste every single penny you spent. If you are spending this much, spend the extra for appropriate cooling measure at a minimum. An AIO will do just fine, as long as you aren't trying to get to the moon on your first overclocking adventure.
| Processor | 3 GHz core_i7 |
|---|
