Intel Core i3-3220 Ivy Bridge 3.3GHz LGA 1155 55W Dual-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2500 BX80637i33220

Pros: Great CPU for a budget build.

Cons: None.

Other Thoughts: I built a media center PC around this processor and it has more than enough power to handle the tasks (Blu-ray and DVD movies, Netflix streaming, etc.) while sipping power.

Pros: Decent performance to power usage. The Ivy Bridge line has a really nice power design. I have this in a mini-ITX system and takes 35-40W total.

Much nicer than in the server it replaced (not to mention being a LOT faster)

Cons: a bit pricey.

Pros: Very quick, strong performance on many games, I even ran some games better with my low end setup than my friends with i5s could (GTA IV on max settings on a midrange monitor, not 1080p)

Cons: Not much, the processor runs very hot without an aftermarket cooler (around 100 degrees Fahrenheit w/ stock cooler, I average 80 now in a warm room with a Coolermaster V8), starting to show signs of being a low end processor for me. No over clocking too, so don't expect to do anything on that side of things, Although I don't think many people are expecting to.

Other Thoughts: My build:
Mobo: MSi Z77A-G41
Processor: Core i3-3220
GPU: Gigabyte GTX 650 I got secondhand from a friend
RAM: 8gb Patriot ram that clocks at 1666mhz
HDD: 500GB Seagate

So obviously a low end build. Ver powerful though, I get strong performance in many games.

Pros: Using this in a new build for my wife. Working fine. The integrated video is fine for watching videos.

Cons: None

Pros: I finally have a processor fast enough to run PCSX2. With stock cooling and the fan running at roughly half its maximum speed, temps get up to about 60c under full load, which seems reasonable. If I run the fan at full speed, they drop to about 50c.

Cons: I wish they'd sell cheaper versions of these processors without the integrated graphics, because I'm paying for a feature that's completely useless to me. The i3 is not very overclocking-friendly, but that doesn't bother me since my graphics card tends to be the limiting factor for game performance anyway.

Pros: Excellent performance for a budget build. Essentially functions as a quad core with hyperthreading. Scores 7.2 on WEI and has no issues with pretty much all of the most intense games with a sufficient graphics card.

Cons: I really don't like the limitations on memory speed (1600), no PCI 3.0 support, and no overclocking. Despite all of this, I still think it's a great processor, but it could definitely be even better.

Other Thoughts: I think this is a superior selection to the 3225 especially when it's on sale because it obviously performs identically in terms of speed, so the only thing you're really paying for is hd4000 graphics vs 2500, which in terms of practical application is a nominal difference. If you want to play games on high settings then you'll typically need more than hd4000 graphics anyway, so why not save the 15-20 bucks on the processor which basically functions the same and invest in a dedicated graphics card?

Pros: I'm very pleased with how snappy this processor is. It's very quick and I'm very glad I purchased it in my bundle.

Cons: Intel stock CPU cooler is a pain. It's cheap and putting it in was a little silly.

Pros: Fast and easy installation. Runs cool with stock heatsink and runs pretty fast.

Cons: None.

Pros: Decided to set up a lab in my house to experiment with Hadoop and Vertica. Running machines with these each with 16gb of memory. Works great, faster than I would have ever guessed.

Cons: none

Other Thoughts: For the price, its hard to beat.

Pros: An amazing processor for the price. This paired with my pny gtx 460 xlr8 I can play Battlefield 3 on high with 60fps and ultra with 40 fps. Not bad for the $100 i spent on this.

Cons: not the best out there, but in my opinion best for the price.