CPUs > From 2.5 GHz to 3.0 GHz CPUs > 100 GBP to 199 GBP

Advantages: Fast, quad core, cool running, guranteed G0 stepping
Disadvantages: Q6600 can be had for half the price for only 266MHz less performance

...can confirm this using the Intel Processor Identification tool on their website. G0 means it runs cooler than the older B3 stepping but also is bound to overclock more. The bad news is that i's 2x the price of a Q6600 for only 266MHz more performance. As long as you can get yourself a G0 stepping Q6600 there doesn't seem a point in spending double on this Q6700, unless you want the 10x multiplier for something. Anyone who does video/audio editing, ...
...extra cores will profoundly be delighted with this CPU. It makes such a more sensible buy than going dual core. Games and program that don't take advantage of all cores will steal yield a snappier system as the Operating System can spread the load more evenly so you can play a game + encode a video all at the same time without it impacting performance. Boxed versions come with a 3 year warranty, OEM versions come with whatever the merchant offers, ... Read review

Advantages: Fastest AMD Processor, easy to overclock, Cheap, Quad Core
Disadvantages: Not the best processor on the market, Runs hot

Being a AMD fan i felt that Intel was wiping the market with there dual cores and quad cores. AMD was giving me no reason to stick by them. Until they release there new gfx card: HD 4870 (more on that in that review). Wanting to stick by them i saw this claiming to add 'True Quad core technology' i bought this. Probably the fastest processor AMD have. The Black edition lets you unlock the potential of the 'AMD overdrive'. Extremly user friendly any ...
...average processor only intels quad cores are faster but hey i bought mine for £129 which is good value compared too the intel processors. It does the jobs i need it to do such as run games and multitask at the same time!! It runs a tiny abit hot on intense activity a bigger fan will keep it down. But hey we're all not perfect :) ... Read review

Advantages: Blistering Speed
Disadvantages: None

...is the 2nd generation (already) Intel processor based on it's 'core' microarchitecture. The previous being called Netburst, and is still around in Pentium 4's and Pentium D 9 series processors. The beauty of the Core 2 Duo chips are the incredible power they are capable of, which producing half the heat of the Pentium 4's. On benchmarking, this processor alone increased the speed of my computer by 53%. This is a huge amount considering i payed less ...
...The processor has a very fast Front Side Bus (FSB) speed of 1066 Mhz and will work with the fastest Ram you can throw at it. It also stays very cool, even under excrutiatingly hardcore tasks, like encoding 3 DVD's simultaneously while editing my photos in the number crunching monster that is Adobe Photoshop CS2. The brilliance behind it is due to several important things. There is a 4Mb cache (which is a lot more than AMD give you) which is shared ... Read review

Advantages: Dual Core Technology, Fast, The CPU heatsink + fan are quiet
Disadvantages: Be careful with the new S775 socket motherboards when installing the CPU cooler as can bend the mainboard if put to much pressure to lock the 4 locks

I have used this processor retail version in many a custom built PC that I have done for people. I have tried the D805 (2.66Ghz) and the 3.0Ghz version but for cost and performance this CPU is the one to have for cost and performance in the series. The only problem I can see is the fact that you can get the 900 series version of the 2.8Ghz for a very similar price. The difference between the two are price (but not a lot really a few quid), the core ... Read review

Advantages: Great OCing potential, Very cheap, Easy to install
Disadvantages: Higher models available at similar price

I have been using this processor since building my computer last year, the reason im still using it is because it is a superb processor, these days this processor is sold on auction sights and can be purchased either with the cooler at about a £100 or easily purchased OEM style as just the processor itself. However i managed to purchase mine for a mere 20 pounds off ebay and ive never looked back since. Since then ive ran games such as crysis on ...
...has it failed me even under the stress of crysis. Many consider its clock speed as very poor for a dual core but in my eyes this is a gem for overclocking. I managed with ease to clock this processor from a respectable 1.6ghz all the way up to 3ghz each core. Ive been using it as this speed for about a year now and it hasnt failed me yet. This processor is so overlooked and i think its beauty comes in its price and its potential for overclocking. ... Read review