Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200

Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor

Q8200 beat AMD Phenom 9850
Pros: This chip beats all other combos I have recently tried for the price. I got this chip with an ecs g31 mobo for $215. I spent $109 for a core 2 duo 7200 combo and $109 for a phenom x3 8450. For the extra hundred or so dollars I get like 500% better performance. The core 2 duo lagged with only a few things open at once. The phenom x3 did a little better on multitasking but scored lower on benchmarks than the core 2 duo. When I got this chip it opened up my options of what I can do. I can download 5 things at once, play bioshock and install blacksite and defrag and run disk cleanup and I was only using like 10% cpu. I had no lag. this chip is amazing. I run dual channell ddr2 6400 800mhz. this is a great investment. it will hold up to software for several years due to the amount of cores and the fact most games dont multithread right now. amazing chip. also the 45nm runs so much cooler than the amd 65nm chips. my proc stays between 24-40c at idle and load with a thermaltake mini typhoon.

Cons: the 4 mega cache is the only con I can think of it really doesn't lessen your performance. but I think a chip like this especially a 45nm quad core could of had a bigger cache but for the money it's perfectly fine. the q6600 has an 8 meg cache but is a 65nm chip. I've heard that the 45nm vs 65nm actually speeds the chip up a tad so the cache size really doesn't effect this penryn too much. It performs in the same spectrum as the q6600 and other quad cores.

Pros: The Q8200 is a dandy little quad chip. It runs smooth, and i overclocked it to 2.6GHz w/ ease, and it measured 3811 on cpu test 3DMark06 benchmark. It could oc higher, but it's nice at 2.6GHz. i run it on a gigabyte ex38-ds4 mobo, zerotherm btf90 hsf 92mm fan, and it's a joy. i dumped a Q9450 to get this chip, and now i have an elegant little high end rig. Highly recommended.
Cons: No cons. i worried about the slight 4MB L2 cache, but it proves to be no drawback. Yorkie Q8200 rocks.

Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 runs cool and fast, multi task like crazy, burn dvd, watch video and lots of windows open and still not show being taxed much. Do a google search, Q8200 beat AMD Phenom 9850, it even beat Q6600 in quite a few tests. Don't forget, 45nm cheap on average is 14% faster than 65nm chip. Meaning Q6600 is 2.4 ghz, and this Q8200 would be equal to 2.65 ghz (2.33 x 1.14). and has a higher FSB.