Rated 
This processor is powerful. And if you want to sa ...
Price versus computing power. Hyperthreading is great. 1 MB of L2 cache really shows up with some of my more intensive applications.
This CPU runs hot—really hot.
Posted Jul 8, 2004 - This processor is powerful. And if you want to save on household utility bills, you can heat at least one room with it. I’m not joking at all here—it runs that hot. I recommend this processor, only if you are willing to go the extra steps to ensure better CPU cooling. This CPU’s normal operating temperature was near 60-62°C in a PC with: a 4-fan Aluminum Coolermaster Praetorian case, all round system cables, wrapped, and stowed for maximum “wind tunnel” system airflow; no system load; a video card that runs cool; HDDs that run very cool; no overclocking; and on a cool Spring day (60°F ambient room temperature). This was with the stock Intel heat sink and fan. I have my own torture “circuit course” I use to: break in new processors; find out what temperatures they run at, and see how they perform under immense loads. My torture test runs all of the following simultaneously: -Prime 95’s Torture Test (a very math intensive prime number calculator). -Windows Media Player, playing Internet radio, while displaying a complex animation. -Run one command prompt for each hard drive partition on my system. Each command prompt continuously loops through the command: “Dir /S X: > X:output.txt” on each hard drive partition, forcing all hard drives to constantly seek, read, and write. -Play Internet Spades or Reversi to see how the system responds to user input under this load. The good news is that the Prescott 3.0E GHz handles all of this madness at once, with flying colors. It lagged a little with all the torturous HDD activity, but I could actually keep up with the online card game without people leaving because I was “the weakest link.” All the while, I’m jamming to Internet music. The lag was expected, because any processor will lag during this type of torture. What’s important to note, is how much of a lag it is. Prescott performed so well, that my music never stopped or skipped, and that only my mouse responsiveness suffered a couple of times—hardly a problem. (This was with Hyperthreading enabled.) The bad news is that the core CPU temperature measured a whopping 72°C with this torture testing. This CPU’s safety range ends at 80°C. I called Intel back then (this was 3 months ago), because I was very concerned about temperature problems, especially during the hotter and more humid summer months (no central AC here). Intel told me not to worry; and said if the system wasn't slowing or showing noticeable signs of instability, that all was well. They also said that some motherboard sensors don’t correctly report Prescott’s CPU temperature. Okay Intel, whatever. (When I can practically blow dry my hair with my case fan, I think the temperature sensor is accurate.) It's a good thing I'm not an overclocker. Intel also said that, for Prescott based systems, they specifically recommend chassis with side intake fans that have a tube going from the side fan straight to the CPU to funnel colder air from outside of the chassis directly to the CPU fan. That's all fine and good, except that not many chassis come this way stock, and I had already bought mine. I’ll get around to modding it eventually. I ordered some cooling upgrades. I replaced the stock Intel heat sink and fan with the Coolermaster Jet 4. I also used the Coolermaster Shin Etsu thermal compound. I replaced Coolermaster’s stock blowhole fan in the Praetorian Case with ThermalTake’s 3-function, Smart Case (75 CFM) Fan Blue Led 80mm x 80mm x25mm (A2016). Today's weather is cool for summer—74°F ambient room temperature. Currently, my 3.0E MHz Prescott is running at 54°C with no load (down from 60-62°C). Under load, it’s still hovering near 69-70° C (down from 72°C). The Prescott CPU runs hot. Intel says it can handle it, and not to worry. So far, mine has taken it well with no noticeable, adverse side effects. However, I’m concerned about how long this processor will last under this heat. Sure this CPU may take the heat now, but its useful life (and that of the surrounding PC components) WILL be shortened by continuous heat exposure. Good thing this CPU has a 3-year warranty (I also bought an extra year from my online retailer.) My hardware hasn’t failed yet, and I've never had a system lockup that wasn't the result of some software bug. And it is a blazingly fast CPU. But again, I only recommend this CPU if you are willing to upgrade your system cooling.
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