AMD Phenom II X3 720 - Phenom II X3 Triple-Core 2.8 GHz Socket AM3 95W Black Processor - HDZ720WFGIBOX

Pros: Any fourth core can be unlocked if you have a bios that will allow it, simply setting ACC to on in your bios you can test it out. Yes the fourth core can be defective but there are people running theirs stable @ 4.0 Ghz unlocked on all four cores. And it does not matter what batch cpu you get, all that matters is if you get a functional core. So to all the "noobs" saying no amount of modding or hacking will allow it. AMD confirmed it and is making Mobo Manufactures update the bios so it can't be done. You can still downgrade your bios and unlock it though and who is to say no one is going to have modded bios to do so.

Cons: Nothing This chip, is amazing having 3 cores @ 4.0ghz if you luck out and get a good fourth core, you will save so much cash. Even though the fourth core/third core are useless in some games and you only gain a small FPS increase.

Overall Review: Please to the people saying you can't unlock the fourth core and if you do it will harm your CPU, you can't be for real. They disable fourth cores on perfectly good quads to meet the demand for the triple cores which i assume is Extremely higher then they anticipated with the bios allowing to unlock the fourth core. So there will be quiet a few PERFECTLY USABLE fourth cores on the X3s. Look at any overclock site, overclock .net or xtremesystems and do a search on this.

Pros: This is a cool running CPU. Overclocked its 40C at idle and 55C under load WITH THE Zalman 9700 NOT EVEN PUSHING 60% RPM! I guess I could probably lower the Smart Fan temperature down, but its running fine where it is! It also overclocks very nicely. I am @ 3.5 gHz & 1.475v on an Nforce MB! The IPC on these Phenom IIs are great. Excellent upgrade from X2 and Phenom with no MB cost if you have an AM2+ MB. VERY VERY VERY inexpensive for the performance it delivers. Unlocked multiplier for under $200 make for easy overclocking. You don't have to spend $1000 like on Intel for this feature. Haven't used it yet, but ACC program is awesome, from what I have read and makes overclocking a breeze! DDR2 and DDR3 memory controller give you upgrade options for all budgets!

Cons: Its not a quad core.

Overall Review: Hidden in this faulty core X4 is a BEAST! More cache per core than X4! It is a super value oriented enthusiast piece. I am getting an AMD 790GX/SB750 MB so I will probably get better overclocking. I truly feel that this is the best performance per dollar CPU out right now! It is unfortunate its not a AM3 quad core, but for the investment I am more than happy. BUY THIS NOW! Unless you can afford a Core i7! Competition is back and its reflecting the CPU pricing. So all you Intel fanboys thank the lord for AMDs return to competition cause your C2Q's are cheaper!

Pros: Drop in Upgrade for my X2 5000 DDR2 and DDR3 capable processor Allows me to do a little upgrade at a time

Cons: Included heat sink is small if you wish to overclock

Overall Review: This was a simple upgrade for my X2 5000+ and it worked in my old AM2 motherboard. I will upgrade to AM3 and DDR 3 in the future. CPU works with my old DDR2 800 and will run DDR3.

Pros: runs extremely cool, nothing ive trown at it slows it down all i can wtg AMD for the price this is a steal!!

Cons: none

Overall Review: I paired this up with the new gigabyte ddr3 motherboard MA790xt-ud4p and 2x2gb g-skill dual channel 1333 ram and 4870 512mb saphire and it rocks,

Pros: Worked in my Biostar TForce 720a board just fine after a BIOS update. This chip has great headroom, but I am suspicious that my board is holding me back from a higher OC. It took 1.55v to hit 3.6GHz, although it was fine up until 3.1GHz on stock volts. So obviously your results will vary, but I think just about anyone can reach 3.5GHz with this chip, even if you don't get a great OC'er. Updated from 4600 Brisbane (2.4GHz dual core). With both at stock clocks, my 3dMark06 score increased by 3600 points (8678 to 12351) (Both run with XFX 9800GT at stock clocks). The CPU score increased from 1830 to 3487. With Both OC'd (4600X2 at 3GHz, 720 BE at 3.6GHz), things changed to 10399 for the X2, and 13227 for the 720 in the total score, and 2290 vs 4406 for the CPU score.

Cons: included cooler is even smaller than the old stock ones (about the same size as the old XP heatsinks), although it does run significantly cooler than any other AMD chip I have owned. The heatsink will be fine for normal use and minimal overclocking. I would just like to see the heatpiped version to come with the Black Edition.

Overall Review: I performed a comprehensive review between this 720 an my old brisbane (even downclocked the 720 to make an exact clock for clock comparison, so then others could see about how much better this is than their old dual core). The 720 BE was about 15% faster in most applications than the X2 (single threaded of course). The 720 also outperformed the overclocked dual core, while it was UNDERclocked at 2.4GHz in 3dMark06 (scored 11490). So if you're thinking about getting one of these, it seems to hit the sweet spot for price and performance. It has three cores for the times when you're multitasking, and does quite well in games, generally outperforming the intel dual cores. It makes a great upgrade for anyone with an older AM2 board (as long as the BIOS will support it).

Pros: Everything

Cons: I can't afford 5 more. lol

Overall Review: This CPU is great. put it right in the Biostar. Also, enabled 4th core. OCed to 3.34GHz no problems. Great operation. AMD Overdrive Utility is spectacular. But: DO NOT BUY ONE THINKING YOU WILL GET A 4TH CORE GUARANTEED. AMD had to be failing some of them for a reason. I got lucky. You may not.

Pros: Using this in an HTPC (Overkill, I know...) But having the three cores allows me to multitask like crazy. I can watch one movie (with the processor upscaling the movie to 1080) while another program rips one of my dvds to a mkv or avi file in the background. And there's never a hint of stutter. Simple overclock to 3.4 with a couple button presses in the bios. Thought I'd come back later and tweak more to see how high it'd go, but truth is I haven't got around to it, cause I've never felt the need. Plug in a controller and get a good video card, and you can play most any game you want. All WHILE running tasks in the background. (Most games right now only utilize 2 cores at most, leaving the third wide open for whatever you want the pc to do while you're playing. Productivity!)

Cons: Defective fourth core on mine, so I couldn't unlock it. If you can call getting exactly what you were promised and paid for (triple core) a con. Not sure how much a fourth core would help my purposes anyway outside of benchmarking programs (I don't think I use anything that can utilize four cores, and even I don't ask my PC to multitask THAT much.) But I don't like leaving comment spaces empty.

Overall Review: See.

Pros: Fast, cool. and great cpu for the price (paid $145.00). I built this system with no problems. I used an ASUS m4a78T-e board (bios 1001) and all I had to do is set the memory to 1333 to work properly. I overclocked it to 3.2 Ghz without any adverse effects. Stock cooler was fine for me. Reset it back to stock (2,8 Ghz.) to use EPU. Again great processor.

Cons: NONE

Overall Review: This is my 6th AMD chip since 1993 and I still love AMD. I'm 60 years old, don't play games, never overclocked until now. I keep my systems a long time and thought that if I could OC, I could keep up with newer operating systems. My system: Asus M4A78T-E Board Phenom II X3 720 BE G-Skill DDR3 4Gb. Ram WD 640 Black Sata H/D Rosewell RG530-2 530w PS CoolerMaster Centurion Case LG 22X DvD Burner (Sata) Lite-on 24X DVD Burner (Sata)