Squidoo hardware site

[dennis-slacko531]

UPDATE: 23-Sept-2012 -- The Intel i3 3220 is now Ivy Bridge, goodbye Sandy Bridge [END UPDATE]

This cat at Squidoo.com really educates. I can't say I understand AMD gear but Intel is fairly easy to grasp. I believe their i-Core branded CPU's (i3, i5, i7) had been generation 2 until this past April when, I think the i5/i7 cpu's finally got off the Sandy Bridge and onto the Ivy Bridge. The die size went down to 22nm and I believe Haswell (in 2013) begins an even newer gen... For practicle reasons, Socket 1155 (the newest) and Z77 is what I'll concentrate on. So for example, you'll see lots of 1155 references for both CPU & MOBO parts. Anyway, the way I see it, for $109 you get a state-of-the-art mobo, and for $123 more you get Intel's 35nm i3 CPU (it's a dual core w/hyper-threading, runs cool at 65w).

This persons hardware articles got me up to speed (education wise).
The first link gets your feet wet... and it's only about a 10 minute read.
http://www.squidoo.com/Motherboards-Intel

This second article is the actual COMBO article.
http://www.squidoo.com/motherboard-cpu-combos


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Intel's Ivy Bridge architecture does have my interest. There's a lot of fast innovation coming in I'll give my BUDGET ideas. However, budget today gets you some fast & loaded gear.

UPDATE (23-Sept-2012) The YouTube video was taken down (no big deal, but thought I'd mention it).
Here's a $109 board from Gigabyte that includes USB 3 ports and interestingly something called mSATA -- Gigabyte says it allows cheap SSD HD right on the mobo (that's cool, yes?). Maybe watch this Youtube video for more (the mSATA stuff comes about 4 minutes in)...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRXwR9Qi39Y

MOBO: Gigabyte Intel Z77 LGA 1155 Dual UEFI BIOS ATX Motherboard GA-Z77-DS3H

UPDATE (23-Sept-2012)
I like the Intel Dual Core i3 (4 theads/Ivy Bridge version added in September 2012) selling at Amazon for $129. It also has an Integrated Graphics Unit (2500) in the CPU. That's pretty new stuff for Intel. Reports are that the video is excellent for most people. Reports also confirm these inexpensive i3's are very close --in nearly all aspects-- to their more expensive i5 & i7 brethren.

UPDATE (23-Sept-2012) Latest i3 is now Ivy Bridge...
CPU: Intel Core i3-3220 Processor 3.3GHz 3 MB Cache Socket LGA1155

So, I'll keep finding what I consider the best buys and posting them here. However, I do edit this frequently when I find better "bangs for the buck".
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UPDATE (23-Sept-2012)
I received a wireless mouse in May/2012. At first I liked it... Now, 4-months later, ouch!!! My index finger is in pain whenever I use this stinking mouse. The design seems poor and the two AA batteries in the mouse make it stupidly heavy... For $28 the Microsoft Wireless Mouse 5000 with BlueTrack is simply $28 wasted. My Puppy fan site, http://www.lnux.com -- rather bare bones -- but I try.