Electronics : Intel E6600 Core2 Duo 2.4GHz - Retail Boxed 1066MHz FSB, 4MB Cache, Dual Core. 64bit Processor Extensions, so can run Windows XP64

Rating: - AMD, take note of this.
Well, where to begin? ...Hmm, at the beginning I suppose. This CPU (E6600) is simply better than any other AMD CPU on the market...and yes, it is better than AMD's socket F tomfoolery before you raise your hand to interupt me. Marry this beast with an 8800GTX (or GTS version) and some low latency DDR2-800 (2GB for starters), and you have a veritable beast on your sweaty paws. I remember when I first knocked together my E6600 system and booted the thing up..."Why is the CPU fan rotating??...must...find...3...pin...fan...header...connector!" - I thought that, in my haste to build the PC, that I'd forgotten to connect it. I was expecting some kind of imminent 'China Syndrome' meltdownery, but no! The fan was connected to the 3 pin header after all. "I don't get it?!", I schizophrenically hear you ask...Ok...I'll tell you - This CPU at maximum load (bursting at the seams with all of those fluffy Volts and pointy Amps), runs at around 40 degrees Centigrade (I never did like the name 'Celcius').

Usage-wise, this CPU can handle more or less anything you can throw at it (bar anvils). As a gamer, the only pain is that some older games get a little confused about the two cores and will run away and tremble under the table...(awww bless them). So, if there are any fellow gamers reading this, take note....if any games start to act strangely (i.e runs at double speed / half speed...both, or just at no speed at all), then bring up your task manager, highlight the running game process, right click it...go to CPU affinity on the menu, then uncheck CPU 1 (i.e leaving CPU 0 checked) then..well...that's all. The game will effectively just use one of the CPU cores instead of two.

So...summing up :- buy this CPU now! erm...remember also that you need an Intel Core 2 Duo compatible motherboard too (ordinary 775's just won't do)...erm...and DDR2 RAM...erm...and possibly a PSU upgrade.

I used to be an AMD fanboy...*sob*...By switching to Intel, a small piece of my soul feels a little bit sad...Sometimes, I feel as though emotionally, I've been fighting against Hitler with the allied forces for years...only to wake up one morning and saying "Bugger this, I'm joining the Nazi party!"...erm, perhaps that wasn't the best analogy, but I'm sure you understand what I mean...I hope.

So, until I bother to review anything else, I shall say "Aufwiedersehen!"...grrr...I mean "Goodbye!".

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Rating: - Intense
As more and more software applications are becoming 'multi-threaded' aka. allowing full functionality of dual or quad-core processors, you may well think it time to upgrade! Then this is the processor for you.

Price/Performance is where this processor comes into its own. Advanced users can overclock the E6600 well past 3.4ghz on the supplied heatsink/fan combo. I can't attest to these figures but I'm running smoothly at 3ghz, which is all I need currently.

Silence is golden and this processor is no expection, silky smooth virtually silent heatsink and fan combo give this baby the ice and keeps the noise to a minimum.

I would highly recommend this CPU to anyone looking for the ideal processor for gaming, HD content, intensive applications and more.

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Rating: - Good solid upgrade
I was upgrading a P4 3.4ghz and this is a pretty good upgrade at the price. For instance my boot time is not a minute shorter and I'm seeing performance improvements in intensive games such as Company of Heroes. Installation was seamless, it comes with its own fan with a thermal plate already waiting to go on the chip.

Remember you might need a new motherboard, PSU, and graphics card if upgrading to this series of chip however. You can read my other reviews to see the setup I went for (an Inno3D GeForce 8800 GTS and an ASUS P5W board).