Box Contents - Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0GHz processor, Heatsink and Fan
3.0 GHz Processor
6MB L2 Cache
1333MHz Front Side Bus
LGA 775 Socket
Rating: - Quad cores have nothing on this.
Yes I'm aware that this is a dual core but I've done my research and this Wolfdale core kicks the snot out of similiar priced quad cores. Runs cool and efficient, as far as performance to cost ratio, buy this CPU.
Rating: - Who needs quad core?
I was undecided between the e8400 and the Q6600 until after doing some research, I learned that almost no programs take advantage of a quad core right now, and are unlikely to in the near future. With the rate processor technology changes these days, getting a quad core now doesn't make a lot of sense. By the time quad cores are the norm, there will be something way better than what's on the market now. Dual core is sufficient for 99.9 of all programs on the market!
I was able to overclock this processor to 3.8ghz using a Zalman CPU cooler at 48C idle and 56C under load. I have a Asus p5k-e motherboard, which overclocks really, really well.
Pros:
Tremendous speed for the price
Extreme overclocking potential
Intel reliability
Cons:
Pretty poor stock cooler. Get yourself an aftermarket cooler if you plan to do any overclocking.
Rating: - Cool fast, and cheaper than the E8500
At room temperature, w/ stock fan, idles at 29C. The 45nm process really is nuts. Try to get at least 1066MHz FSB on your motherboard to get more out of this chip, and ram to match. I've heard of people get this chip up to 4.0GHz without water-cooling, which is nuts.
And you can overclock to make this the same as an E8500, but not spend the extra $50 or so. Excellent price/performance ratio. XP boots in 20 seconds.
Rating: - Crappy Heat Sink/Fan
I have had this processor for a month and it works well. I have not overclocked it yet. It is an excellent value for the price.
My main problem is that the heat sink/fan is *extremely* hard to install. I could only get three of the pins into the motherboard. I pressed and pressed and bent the board and I think I got the fourth pin in, but it was unsettling to push that hard. Both of my thumbs hurt afterward. I have an XFX 780i motherboard.
Normally it wouldn't matter, because you wouldn't use the stock cooling. However, this chip is popular partially because it can reach 3.6 GHz or more with the included fan.
Also, when I installed it the processor was set at a 7x multiplier. I easily increased this to 9x in BIOS to get the full 3GHz, but it was odd that it started at 7x.
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