NEC PowerMate VL5 Athlon XP 2800+ 2.08 GHz

Advantages: Fast, cheap, potential
Disadvantages: Misunderstood

...THis processor is the 2800+ model, which runs at 2.08Ghz. I was always a fan of AMD but when I started to really learn the differences between them and their Intel competition I started to LOVE them. I currently have this CPU running on my main PC, which I prefer to the Athlon 64 3000+ I also have. Granted the 64 has more number-crunching ability, however for the price and limitations it has, the XP soars forward. The temperature and voltage of this CPU may be relatively high, but for it's age it's a cracker. A bog-standard fan assembly will do fine, but personally I have bigger copper version, and my CPU hardly goes above 40*C. During gaming this CPU has no problems at all and keeps Battlefield 2 running online at full graphics. Obviously, with a little help from it's AGP card and memory friends. No CPU lag here, even with my... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Quick, Never an error, Very affordable
Disadvantages: NONE!

...I bought this processor nearly 18 months ago. This was before the Athlon 64s were around and when this CPU was a top of the line beast. It cost me around £160 but was well worth the money. I bought it OEM. This means that it did not come with the official AMD heatsink and fan but then I really didn't want that anyway. I always find these certified fans too noisy so I bought a Zalman CNPS6000-CU AMD cooler. If you have seen these then you will know they are not your typical heatsink and fan. They have a huge surface area and a large fan running at a very low RPM. This makes for efficient and quiet cooling. The CPU runs at around 55C and if you are playing games or a CPU demanding application, then you can turn the fan up to compensate. Since I have had this CPU for such a long time I would have expected to be playing games now... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: 266sfb, easy install, quick
Disadvantages: heatsink in retail pack not up to much

...I used one of these before upgrading and i tell you they rock, the performance for the price is amaizing and cant be matched by any other cpu out there i dont think, running at 2.0ghz with a 266 fsb you know that its going to be quick. i had mine running with a msi kt400 chipset motherboard and it was rocking, i upgraded because i had some spare cash but between the 2400 and the 2800 there isnt much difference, the stock heatsink isnt really upto much in the retail packs, but a good heatisnk to recommend is the coolermaster jet, my friends are still using these cpu's in there systems and they match me on games and office work easily.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful