Fast, Cheap, 64 - bit, so much better than an Intel !
Disadvantages:
Lack of 64 - bit programs out
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
First Things First....this processor is actually called an AMD Athlon64 3000+, which means that it is the equivalent to an Intel 3Ghz. But it is called here a 2Ghz because AMD are better than Intel and their processors can handle more information, so can be slower, and therefore cooler. (e.g. a 2Ghz AMD is the same as a 3Ghz Intel!).
Now to the review, i bought this processor because i needed a new one badly and this was faster, had a bigger cache and was 64-bit, then i saw the price and my jaw literally dropped, i couldn't believe it!
I installed this processor fine first time, no hassle (though i would recomment removing the thermal compound on the supplied heatsink and using Arctic SIlver instead) and it works like a dream, even though it is the lower end of the Athlon64 market! As well as working fine it can also be overclocked to run at at least 2.2Ghz (equivalent to a 3.2Ghz Intel) on the stock heat sink (maybe more on a better one - try a Zalman heatsink).
I have found no problems with the performance of this, or the temperature, even when playing Battlefield 2 and Call of DUty 2 on full graphics! It just devours the game and makes one hell of a good gaming computer.
The one bad thing people point out is that there are currently very few 64bit programs out (only a beta of XP64, FarCry etc.), but see this as preparing, so when 64 bit programs come out, you will be able to use them straight away! Also, because it is 64bit it tends to have a bigger cache than most 32bit ones, making it faster and better! Also, people go on about Intels HyperThreading technology and say this hasnt got it, making it worse. Thats cr*p, HT tech is there because the Intel CPU isnt fast enough to fill its cache, so it needs to trick the pc into thinking it has 2 CPUs to fill it.....just somebody at Intel arsing up on the design!! Finally, before i round up this review, if you do buy an Intel, it will use the AMD 64bit chip (what this has) because Microsoft said to Intel that the new XP would ONLY work with the AMD chip because it was better!!
So basically, this CPU is amazingly fast for the price, can be overclocked to go even faster, stays very cool, extremely simple to install and use and uses the same chip as all Intel 64s because Intel had to buy the AMD one off them! (reason explained above) So this processor is perfect for any type of computer, gaming or multimedia, and for the price, there should be no reason for you not buying one!
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Very stable
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