Intel Core i7 3820 Quad Core CPU (3.60GHz, 10MB Cache, Socket 2011, 130W, Sandy Bridge)

Title : Intel Core i7 3820 Quad Core CPU (3.60GHz, 10MB Cache, Socket 2011, 130W, Sandy Bridge)
ASIN : B006WVVA28
Description :

Technical Specifications: Clock frequency: 4x 3600 MHz · Level 1 cache: 4x 32 kB · Level 2 cache: 4x 256 kB · Level 3 cache: 10 MB · PC base: Intel® 2011 · Processor type: Quad Core

Description: 4x 3600 MHz Quad Core

Features :

• Product Type:Processor

List Price : £259.99
Price : £234.94
Saved Price : £25.05

category: Extreme
brand: Intel
Item Page Detail URL : link
Rating : 4.5
Review : CPU could be great, but Motherboards still haven't caught up
I bought this CPU because it's nearly top-end fast, but considerably cheaper than the 39xx series. However, there is a gotcha:

LGA2011 X79 motherboards were mostly released in late 2011 for the 39xx chips and didn't support the (as-then) unreleased 3820. It was only supported in BIOS upgrades during Mar-Apr 2012. You have no way of knowing what BIOS is in your mobo until you assemble a system and attempt to power it up.

Which is where the great catch-22 arises: if the motherboard doesn't support the 3820, it won't POST. So you can't flash the BIOS to support the chip. At least, not without borrowing a