The 2nd generation Intel Core i7 3000 series of processors are the first high end desktop platform CPUs that have been designed with the Sandy Bridge 32nm microarchitecture. Intel code named these 32nm processors 'Sandy Bridge-E' and we are guessing that the "E" stands for extreme. The transition to Sandy Bridge-E for the high end platform means that the LGA1366 with the Intel X58 Express chipset and Bloomfield/Gulftown processors have finally been put out to pasture. Intel announced the LGA1366 platform back in November 2008, so this is the first platform change for enthusiast users in over three years!