Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 - Core 2 Duo Conroe Dual-Core 2.13 GHz LGA 775 65W Processor - BX80557E6420

Pros: Incredible. I was going to buy the 6600 when the price droped, but then I read reviews on 6420. 8x multiplier makes them an easy Overclock to 3.2, which apparently nearly all will do (including mine)I just set the memory speed to 533MHz in BIOS on the Biostar 965PT, then changed memory voltage to 2.0 and FSB to 400. Stock voltage on the CPU.

Most of the reviews I have read on the 6420 show similiar overclocks to the 6600 for forty dollars less.

Is sailing through Prime 95 torture test now.

It may well run faster than 3.2, maybe I'll push it more or maybe I won't. I have always been the "low hanging fruit" type of overclocker. Whatever the CPU and memory will do without a big voltage (and thus temperature)boost.

How fast? My Pentium D 805 overclocked to 3.32GHz did Super PI 1MB in 39 seconds. 2MB in 1m 27 seconds. 4MB in 3m 11sec. The C2D 6420 at stock 2.13GHz 1MB 23 sec, 2MB 56 sec, 4MB 2m 9sec. At 3.2Ghz, 1MB 16sec, 2MB 41 seconds, 4MB 1m 26sec. 2x faster!

Cons: What cons? It isn't free? It won't self install?

Overall Review: Why buy the 6600 for forty bucks more? Or the 6700 for over one hundred bucks. 3.2Ghz seems to be the sweet and easy overclock on these processors. This processor's 8x multiplier makes that easy.

Does anyone now purchase the 2MB cache 6300 and 6400 processors? When the 4MB versions cost the same and are faster?

BTW, I'm using inexpensive Super Talent PC 5300 memory (667MHz) that easily does 800 MHz at 2.0v. This much performace for soooo little cash!!

Pros: The CPU itself is just fine. My beef is with the boxed cooler.

Cons: The CPU idle temperature hovered around 50-55C. When I launched a game, I immediately got a 68C high temperature alarm. Yes, I installed the cooler correctly. I even reinstalled it with a brand name silver heat transfer paste.

Overall Review: I'm running Windows XP Home, Intel 35DP35 mobo, 4 X 1 Gb Corsair 800Mhz RAM, XFX 8600 GTS video card. (All purchased from Newegg.)

I junked the stock cooler and installed a Zalman CNPS9500 LED CPU cooler.
CPU Idle temp = 30-33 C
100% CPU usage = 33-37 C

This cooler looks awesome in my Antec 900 gaming case (three blue LED fans). All fans are set to lowest speed setting including the CPU cooler.