The best replacement for sandy bridge is ivy bridge.

The best alternatives to sandy bridge are rated as following:
★★★★★  ivy bridge
★★★★  bloomfield
★★★★  i7
★★★  westmere
★★★  haswell
★★  fusion
★★  bulldozer
★★  nehalem
★  core 2 duo
★  ivy bridge overclocking
★  lynnfield
★  haswell i5
★  ivy bridge power consumption
★  broadwell
★  gulftown
★  x58
★  1366
  ivy bridge e
  core i7
  wait for ivy bridge
  arrandale
  wait for ivy
  i7 950
  sandy bridge e
  wait for bulldozer
  haswell performance
  ivy bridge processor
  amd fusion
  ivy

Your alternative for sandy bridge is not listed? Suggest!
Speaking about sandy bridge, one probably shouldn't forget about z77.

Other search terms related to sandy bridge and their ratings are:
★★★★★ z77
★★★ pcie 3.0
You have in mind a companion for sandy bridge and it is not yet here? Propose!



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sandy bridge
ivy bridge
bloomfield