AMD Phenom II X4 830 Deneb 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor HDX830WFK4DGM - OEM

Pros: Was on sale for $70 for awhile. Very cheap.
Managed to hit 4.4GHz (unstable, obviously).
Running 3.9GHz stable on air.
Quad core.

Cons: None, except maybe that it's not unlocked.

Other Thoughts: Right now I hold the top score on PassMark for it, at 5,391 points. Test was ran at 4.1GHz. I've had it at 4.4, but the overall gain for the computer was less than 5%, so I couldn't upload it.

Bragging rights are awesome, though.

Pros: OVerclocked to 3.6 without issues at all, have been running stable for about a year now. So happy i picked this thing up for under a 100$ for my low budget gaming rig this year!

Cons: none

Pros: Very great processor for an HTPC. I had some spare parts around and all I needed was a CPU, for $50 I got this thing to 3.8 24/7 overclock (a full 1gh higher).

Been pretty pleased, I saw others got it higher - depends on your setup. My cheap htpc mobo suffers mad vdroop.

Cons: None... How many complaints can you have with a sub $50 quad?

Pros: installed with a corsair h40 water cooler and loving it. haven't over clocked yet but plan to over clock to 4.0 whenever i learn more of it. running all games at ultra settings including bf3. (which i know is mostly video card but still) cpu with cooler runs in-between 17'c and 21'c at idle and with bf3 maxed out it runs below 39'c

Cons: nona

Other Thoughts: fantastic

Pros: No bent pins
No defects
nothing to whine about really

Cons: None

Other Thoughts: I don't know how future proof this is which is something I was looking for, but maybe that's just fine because a lot of buyers are reporting stable overclocking and irregardless it's a speedy little CPU so I think I'll be just fine.

Pros: overall awesome. low power, so a $50 can overclock it like a boss. i have it to 4.2 GHz on a hyper212+, runs perfectly stable and super fast.

Cons: runs hotter when overclocked than newer cpu's.

Pros: Inexpensive quad core upgrade for older AM3 boards. Draws much less than the rated 95W which leaves some interesting possibilities.

Cons: Low spec clock speed. The competitor's dual-core hyperthreading CPUs outperform these at even lower TDP.
Of course with this CPU you can do the thing that everybody does but you're not supposed to talk about here. No not that thing - get your mind out of the gutter. I can see why she left you.

Other Thoughts: I saw this on sale and took a chance to upgrade my HTPC's Sempron 140 (45W single-core 3.75GHz).

I had previously put a Phenom II X4 955 BE (125W 3.2GHz) in the HTPC. That experiment ended quickly. The 955 runs too hot for the stock cooler, even with the fan screaming at 7k RPM. I ended up buying a new cooler and putting the 955 in my work machine.

This, the 830, being OEM doesn't come with a cooler, so I used the leftover 955 heat-pipe cooler with the quiet (3k RPM max) fan from the Sempron 140's stock cooler.

I set this thing a bit over 3.1GHz at 1.18V (spec is 1.325V) and it runs mprime overnight with no problems. Core temp stays below 60C (if you trust the sensor - I don't actually). The system at max load draws less than 120W at the wall, about 40W less than 955, and about 40W more than the Sempron - and nearly quadruple the muscle.

It seemed to run OK at 3.5GHz @1.3V but the core temp readings shot over 65C with my stopgap cooling solution and I stopped the experimen

Pros: Windows rates it a 7.4 out of a maximum 7.9 on the performance index. This thing is a beast!!

Cons: None that I have found.

Other Thoughts: For $89.99 this is the best processor that you can find. Pull up a CPU comparison chart online to see how well it rates compared to processors that cost hundreds of dollars, or even thousands.

Pros: Bargain price for 4 cores and 6mb L3 cache. Easy to overclock significantly above stock speeds. Took CPU volts up to 1.395 and it never gets above 50 degrees celcius!

Cons: Can't really think of any. Maybe the fact that it doesn't come with a CPU heatsink/fan but that is a Pro if you ask me. Most will buy an aftermarket one anyway.

Other Thoughts: I used a stock AMD 1090t CPU heatsink/fan (copper pipes) with this CPU and was able to overclock up to 3.8ghz rock solid. This was done on a super cheap motherboard, too. Not much flexibility on voltages, but I was still able to get a huge performance gain easily. Ended up with 273 for reference clock speed (14 x 273 = 3.82Ghz), HT and NB at 2184 (8x), and RAM at 1455 (1600 speed RAM used, tightened up the timings due to underclock). Bumped volts on NB and HT +0.10 volts. CPU is at 1.395 volts. Everything else is stock/auto. For what I paid for this CPU and the cheapie motherboard it is insane value. Would recommend to anyone that needs a PC unless you are looking for a multi-tasking monster.

Pros: AMD as always = Best Bang for your Buck.. PERIOD. Price to Performance ratio over intel is above and beyond. 15+ years of AMD use and they've NEVER let me down. Phenom II Quad Core is another SLAM DUNK !!!

Cons: Never a Con with AMD

Other Thoughts: Intel makes a great chip, don't get me wrong.. but price to performance.... AMD is untouchable.