Final thoughts and rating
Intel's Sandy Bridge processors represent a genuine step forward in chip evolution. Now packing in refined, efficient CPU cores and an improved GPU on to the same portion of silicon, Intel has done away with the need for chipset-based graphics for good.
Sandy Bridge is an improvement over 2010's Lynnfield chips in practically every way save for the limited overclocking potential available on regular, non-K chips. There's better power management, increased overclocking, lower power-draw, a dedicated media processor, and 'free' graphics, which are the best of any IGP on the market right now.
Indeed, the Core i7 2600K, priced at around £250, takes away many of the reasons for opting towards Intel's traditional performance platform, X58, and the lower-priced Core i3 and Core i5 chips, especially the 2500K, are compelling in their own right.
We can see little reason for looking at any Intel platform other than Sandy Bridge if building a new PC, and while AMD has made great strides in offering excellent value from its Phenom and Athlon line, they ultimately lack Sandy Bridge's all-round elegance.
Intel has opened up 2011 with a hugely impressive collection of second-generation Core processors for both the mobile and desktop platforms. Sandy Bridge raises the bar for just how good a processor you can buy for a reasonable outlay, and serves to diminish the need to look at older platforms. We have little hesitation in recommending them to anybody.
The Good
Superb performance for mainstream processors
Core i7 2600K makes X58 mostly redundant
All-round architecture is the best yet
Excellent power-draw credentials
Overclocks like a champ
The Bad
Needs a new supporting chipset
Core branding continues to be confusing
HEXUS Rating
Intel 2nd Generation (Sandy Bridge) CPUs
HEXUS Awards
Intel 2nd Generation (Sandy Bridge) CPUs
HEXUS Where2Buy
TBC.
HEXUS Right2Reply
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