Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 Yorkfield Quad-Core 2.5 GHz LGA 775 95W EU80580PJ0606M Processor - OEM

Pros: Runs as expected. I am not ambitious enough to overclock this to its peek performance level, I set the bus speed at a modest increase, @ 450MHz and am happy enough with this speed, (3.38GHz.) I am upgrading from a single core obviously there is no comparison. Encoding videos in standard definition H.264 codec dropped from ~5 hours to just under 30 minutes.

Cons: There is always room for improvement, but I have no complaints.

Overall Review: I do a lot of research before I make any major purchase, there are of coarse better CPUs on the market, but they cost more, and there are certainly less expensive ones, but they aren't as good.... Duh. You should do your own research, but unless you are ultra-conservative with money, you will likely end up choosing one of the Yorkfields.

Pros: Stock-for-Stock, is 7% faster than the Q6600. My Q9300 is running a cool 29c at load on an Actic Freezer 7 Cooler. Seems to be compatible out of the box with many P35 boards, Im running a MSI P35 Neo-F. Couldnt be happier with this processor.

Cons: The 7.5 multi might be a turn off for some Overclockers, But, this CPU will perform better at 3.4ghz than a Q6600 at 3.6ghz. (Xbit Labs Article)

Overall Review: Its amazing how many non-owners banged up this processors reviews, but its a good thing, it dropped the prices rather quickly.

Pros: Low power use, Runs cool (low 50c wt cpu fan at low) good bang for buck. Oh did I say it runs cool.

Cons: L2 Cache only 6MB same as wolfies not a BIG DOG like the other yorkies. Intel limited options wt 7.5 multiplier

Overall Review: Even wt the 7.5 multiplier, stable clock at 3.O wt. FSB 400mhz ie QDR is at 1600. 780i board doesn't sneeze at 400mhz.

Pros: Fast, quick, rapid, speedy, hasty, high-speed…and on and on… 2.5Ghz x 4 = Good Fun! Able to OC to 3.6Ghz… But I don’t have the need for that much power right now but it’s good to know. A great board for this proc is EVGA 780i. She runs like a champ!

Cons: Some say only 6MB of Cache…ONLY! It’s not like more cache will help me find oil in Antarctica or life on Mars. If you’re running a server for the WWW then I can see the need for more than 6MB. :-P

Overall Review: Comp Spec: CoolerMaster COSMOS 1000, ABS BZ700 Power Supply, EVGA 780i MoBo, EVGA 8800GT AKIMBO 1GB, Intel Core 2 Q9300, Zalman 9700 CPU cooler, 4 GB CORSAIR Dominator DDR2-8500 + CORSAIR CMXAF1 Fans, Seagate Barracuda 750GB, SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R, Scores 27200 Futuremark. Not OCed...yet. :-P

Pros: Very very little voltage needed to get to 400mhz FSB(comes stock at 333mhz fsb). Runs very cool thanks to 45nm, my temps sit at 36c with a 500mhz OC on the core on idle and barly goes over 50c on load running prime full on. That speaks volumes for this CPU. Yorkfield has core tweaks over Kentsfield making it faster clock for clock(my 3ghz Q9300 is as fast as a 3.2ghz Kentsfiled), and has less latency than kentsfield.

Cons: 7.5x multiplier is a def con on this. You have to completely depend on FSB OC'ing to get you to your desired OC. Nothing wrong with that considering this chip is a beast at FSB OC'ing, but it come with some precautions to keep in mind. Make sure you have ram that is at least 1066mhz if your going to OC past 400mhz on the FSB and make sure you have good cooling too because your going to depend on voltages as well.

Overall Review: To the guy below me saying his CPU does not work... it's most likely his motherboard. Not all motherboards nativly support 45nm quads. I know the 680i's don't and a few of the P35's. Fortunatly for me, I have a DFI DK x38 and works flawless with this CPU. If your getting one of the 45nm quads, try opting for a x38 or x48 intel chipset as the P35's seem like a hit and miss with these. I got this puppy to 3ghz with very little voltage on air with a Zalman 9700LED, and DFI x38. Don't want to go any higher than that as I only have 800mhz ram.

Pros: well this is my second quad and it dosent overclock as easy as my q6600. But it can put up some numbers though. I got it to hit 3.2 on air stable so far havent tried any higher yet. I do like it for the price and all it runs a little cooler it seems than my q6600.

Cons: none

Overall Review: Runs all my video and stuff just fine. Games work just fine also. Probably wouldnt buy another though. but not a let down by no standard.

Pros: Runs relatively cool for a processor with this much power. Relatively low power consumption (unless you start comparing it to Merom, which wouldn't even be fair). Great speed. Very fast with stock settings, and still a fair amount of overclocking headroom. Benchmarks say that it outperforms the Q6600 clock-for-clock. Much cheaper than the other Q(x)9000 models.

Cons: Only 6MiB L2 Cache. Multiplier is locked kind of low, but that doesn't bother me seeing as I'm not overclocking it atm.

Overall Review: I kind of wish I had waited for the 9450, but I'm not disappointed in 9300, not one bit.

Pros: Cool, fast, quick. Stock speeds it idles at room temperature of 20C (with katana 2 cooler) and gets clear up to 35c running full load doing video work.

Cons: Expensive

Overall Review: I bought this because I didn't want to spend the extra money on the 9450. I'm not a bit disappointed, but I've been working on a 1.6ghz Turion. So this is quite the step up.