Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Reviews

Running at 3.16 GHz, the E8500 is the penultimate processor in Intel's Core 2 Duo E8xxx line, just 6% slower than the 3.33 GHz E8600 at the top of the range

- Speedy results on almost every test, - Sometimes as fast as entry-level quad-core processors, - Reasonable energy efficiency

- For demanding applications, quad-core processors will do better

The E8000 series is an excellent bunch of dual-core processors with reasonable power consumption. For more demanding tasks, though, a quad-core CPU will do better.

(nm) process.

High clock speed. 6MB L2 cache. Fast in games.

Pricey compared to the Q9300.

Intel's Wolfdale CPU is highly overclockable, but the performance advantage over the Q9300 is surprisingly small.

The E8500 is every bit as good an overclocking chip as you would hope; hitting 4GHz on air cooling is a cinch

As good as dual-core gets, Awesome gaming grunt, Overclocking headroom

Not much cheaper than a decent quad

All of which just leaves one lingering doubt. The full-fat, 12MB cache Q9450 quad-core chip can be had for just £30 more. Sure it's clocked a little lower at 2.6GHz. But for any system that's remotely multi-purpose, the Q9450 is probably a be