In truth, if you're looking for a new x86 machine and you want extreme overclockability, I would suggest considering very carefully whether or not you'll go with AMD. The performance numbers today just don't add up to make it an immediate, wise business decision. I believe truthfully that buying AMD today is the equivalent of buying a company that has forced innovation to enter the market, and represents buying based on ideals rather than immediate results. Still, I place value on that, and the reality is that solutions available from AMD today are likely fast enough for anybody except extreme gamers and extreme video/audio content creation authors.

Wow. Never mind an upgrade path to the desktop Barcelona. You can buy the X2 3600+ here at Zipzoomfly boxed and shipped for $72. You can also buy the X2 4400+ at Zipzoomfly boxed and shipped for $111. Take that $40 and buy more memory or a better video card, case, or power supply. Then in H2 upgrade to the Barcelona desktop variant of your choice. Then you won't feel so dirty from pondering buying Intel.

This article is an in-depth look at overclocking. We'll cover how to do it, what sort of performance you can achieve, problems and potential solutions, etc. Overclocking can be frustrating, rewarding, fun, and dangerous. We don't mean "burn the house down" dangerous, but you could certainly end up ruining some or all of your computer components. We take no responsibility for any difficulties or losses you may experience by using the information in this article, and we certainly take no responsibility for any damage that may occur to any person, place, or object. The manufacturers of the parts that we are using are also not accountable for any loss/damage that may occur - most companies void your warranty for overclocking. It's a risk, and it's your risk - proceed with caution. Finally, overclocking is never a "guaranteed result". You may or may not match the results that we achieve. We'll be happy to offer suggestions if you need them, as will many of our forum members. Patience and research are part of overclocking as well, so please understand that you may have to do some work on your own. If you can accept those warnings, we hope that you enjoy this article.

The results speak for themselves, the X2 3800+ is an outstanding performer in the right environment. I'll again point out that the processor I used was an Engineering Sample, so my results are probably toward the higher end of what you should expect. Even so, this processor is an excellent choice for the enthusiast as well as the average user looking for performance on a budget.