With the Dual-Core processor push in full effect, prospective upgraders now have a whole new line of products to consider before making a purchase. From the Intel side you have the Intel Pentium D series, which offers two non-HyperThreaded cores in a single package and the Pentium Extreme Edition with its dual-HyperThreaded cores. While Intel's Pentium D processors do have an attractive price point, the newer CPUs require an upgraded chipset to function. This adds to the overall cost of upgrading since most users will need a new motherboard to go along with a new dual-core CPU. Conversely, there is the pricier AMD X2 processor line. AMD's price point is currently less attractive than Intel's, but it's balanced out with the fact that the processor works with existing hardware, requiring a simple BIOS update to the motherboard.
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Review:
Hothardware