I definitely recommend this affordable processor for a general use computer or an HTPC, since its performance in this domain looked to be on average equal to its Phenom II counterpart depending on the benchmark, but at an even lower price. The Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition already offers better performance at a lower price point compared to the competitor's offerings such as the E8400 that was totally owned in our system benchmark suite. Therefore, the Athlon II X3 just gets even better in such applications. However, for gaming, if the wallet allows it, I would still opt for a Phenom II, as I have said in the first paragraph. For enthusiasts, going with an unlocked processor might provide lots of fun.

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