Intel Pentium Dual-Core Processor G860 3.0 GHz 3 MB Cache LGA 1155 - BX80623G860

I recently built my first gaming PC and the most difficult part of the process wasn't the actual building part but choosing the right and best parts! I wanted to keep the total build around $500 (including OS!) so many of my decisions were based on price. Of course, performance had to be good enough for a gaming PC too. Enter the Intel Pentium G860 3.0 GHz Dual-Core Processor. Sure, everyone wants an Intel i7 or even an i5 or i3, but from my research I found that the hyper threading that those processors include don't really matter much when it comes to games (and from my experience so far has proven that to be very true). The G860 is built on the same architecture as the big boys but with a considerably smaller price tag. Plenty of RAM and a good graphics card paired up with this processor make for a fantastic budget gaming PC. Don't be fooled by the "Pentium" name. As I have found out through research, this processor is completely different from the low powered, budged Pentium processors of years past. It is essential an i3 without hyper threading. And it really does scream. The PC I built runs Windows 8 incredibly well with this processor. No lag. Sucker flies!This processor came in a small Intel box and included a heat sink with fan. There was thermal past already on the fan so installation was incredibly easy. I had never built a PC before and installing the processor was probably the single easiest part of the build. My advice to anyone building a gaming PC is to get a motherboard that accommodates not only this processor but also the i7 and below, that way if you ever want to upgrade all you need to do is replace it. Easy!A quick note on the price. I got mine for around $68 bucks but I have seen it fluctuate as low as $60 but as high as $100. So keep an eye on the price before you buy since Amazon often raises and lowers prices daily. $70, give or take a few bucks, appears to be the good, stable price for this processor.

I only bought this processor because I had a limited amount of money, but when I got my desktop computer all put together, and installed, I was pretty impressed at how fast it can process things. I am only 15 years old, I am not a really heavy gamer, but I always have alot of differnt programs running, and about 10 tabs open in internet explorer, and it runs just fine, have not had any problems with it yet. I have the Intel DH77EB Media Series Mother board with 4 GB DDR3 RAM @ 1600 MHZ. a 2TB HDD, Intel Pentium Dual core processor @ 3.00 GHZ (The one I am rating) and Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit, and like I said, I have had no issues.

I was building a budget gaming rig and decided to go with a CPU/discrete graphics card rather than using integrated graphics. This processor is priced right to get the job done and my machine is nothing but snappy!I'm very pleased, even with the stock cooler, at how cool the chip stays. I imagine this cooler would fit in even the tightest of HTPC cases, it isn't even taller than my RAM which has heat spreaders. It is also quiet. In fact, the only fan I hear most of the time in this system is the GPU can.The only drawbacks I can think of are that it is only a dual core chip and it is not overclockable.I paired this chip with a Biostar H77MU3 motherboard and stuck an EVGA GeForce GTX 650 Ti in there for gaming. I am averaging about 50-60fps while playing Assassin's Creed III on the highest settings. (Not at 1080p, though, as I don't have a screen capable of that.)

So I bought this processor 3 weeks ago and I can honestly say I am loving it. It's a dual core processor clocked at 3.0GHz AND its on Sandy Bridge architecture! Although it lacks the hyperthreading that its i3 cousins have, it still performs very nicely. It runs at about 25C using the stock cooler and will go up to 36C at full load still running silent however. The integrated GPU is not an Intel Graphics 2000/3000 however, it is just called Intel Graphics Family. Do not underestimate this however. This integrated GPU can easily max out Call of Duty 4 with no AA and run at 30-40 FPS and it plays Minecraft on full settings with a 128x128 texture pack at 45 FPS. If you are in the market for a budget processor that runs cool and don't want to pony up another $30 for the i3, definitely pick this processor up for even one of its little brothers, the G850 or G840.

I was planning on buying a mini-ITX board with Intel CPU to use as a file/media server. This was my first choice. $70 for a 3.0GHz dual-core CPU, it definitely was good for the price.In a mini-itx case, with the stock cooler, I was seeing temperatures in the 25-35C.For basic computing, this cpu will do everything you need it to. Viewing youtube videos, MS Office, internet browsing, even basic gaming.The CPU was however beginning to lack once I started encoding and streaming HD video.I ended up upgrading to an Intel I5 to handle the increasing stress of HD video.If you want a basic CPU for browsing the web, this is for you.

I used this MOBO to build a desktop for my wife. It was easy to install with the other components:Seagate Barracuda 500 GB 7200RPM SATA NCQ 16 MB Cache 3.5-Inch Internal Desktop Hard Drive ST3500641AS-RK-Retail KitLogisys CS301BK Mid Tower Computer Case with 480W PSU BlackCorsair XMS3 8 GB (2 x 4GB) 1333 MHz PC3-10666 240-Pin DDR3 Memory Kit CMX8GX3M2A1333C9Intel Pentium Dual-Core Processor G860 3.0 GHz 3 MB Cache LGA 1155 - BX80623G860LG Electronics 24X SATA Super-Multi DVD Internal Rewriter with M-Disc Support (Black) GH24NS95BGigabyte GK-KM7580 Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo SetAll purchased @ Amazon.com. Hardware installation took about 1 hour. Installed Windows 8 OS.System running great since June 18, 2013.