Intel Pentium Extreme Edition Dual-Core 965 3.73GHz Processor

FAST

Strengths: its pretty fast and installation went w/out a hitch. runs pretty stable and i overclocked to 4.05 on a coolermaster centurion.

Weakness: why would anyone buy this with the new core 2 extreme on the market at only $100 more?? i really wish i had waited two extra months and gotten a conroe.

Intel should do a engineer swap with a company like ZALMAN who know how to design heatsinks and fans. As much as this puppy cost you would think they would supply a decent heatsink and fan.

By mauhor - Sep 7, 2006

INTEL 965EE cpu

Strengths: Super fast and very responsive to overclocking. The 965 is superior to 955 in that it draws 131 watts as compared to 155+ for the 955. Even so with the stock Intel supplied heatsink it will run +56 C

Weakness: I tried a Thermaltake "Big Typhoon and it ran at 49+ C, finally went to Swiftech water cooling and it runs at 42 C. Perfect for overclocking at this point. Great chip Recommend ASUS P5WD2-E Premium MB

Get a good power supply to go with this chip, [ASUS 550 watt]. Think about water cooling, Swiftech is easy to use and install. Three WD Raptors [10,000 RPM] in Raid 5 with 4 gig of Corsair 800 mghtz memory and you've the best system going. Clocking to 4.25 is done with room to spare. Just a great chip!

By dwbowen - Jun 29, 2006

Intel 965 EE 3.73 Dual-Core CPU

Strengths: Simply put... Amazing. Great processor with overclockablity to around 4.4 Ghz with proper cooling. Supports many things such as 64-bit, virtualization, execute disable bit, and Hyper Threading.

Weakness: None, just cool properly. A little pricey too.

Personally I have it mounted on an Asus P5WDG2-WS Mainstation motherboard. In addition with 4GB of DDR2 800Mhz (PC2-6400), Dual ATI X1600XTs (256MB) in Crossfire, and a 150GB Raptor. I would recommend this setup, which provides superior performance and loading times. Also would recommend this Silverstone NT06 to cool the chip if you aren't going with a water cooled system. This setup provides you...
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Personally I have it mounted on an Asus P5WDG2-WS Mainstation motherboard. In addition with 4GB of DDR2 800Mhz (PC2-6400), Dual ATI X1600XTs (256MB) in Crossfire, and a 150GB Raptor. I would recommend this setup, which provides superior performance and loading times.

Also would recommend this Silverstone NT06 to cool the chip if you aren't going with a water cooled system. This setup provides you with a nominal temperature of around 45 C (low loads) to 55C (high loads).

Really overclocking this chip to 4.3Ghz to 4.4Ghz is a breeze and the chip takes it nicely. I'd put this chip up to anything AMD could throw at it currently. Simply put this CPU is superb.

By Blueldr137 - Jun 30, 2006

Hang on ... we're gonna go real fast now ...

Strengths: BAM! Rockin the house with this 965 processor. (see below)

Weakness: HEAT, HEAT, HEAT as with all high end processors (see below)

Started with the D830 on the Intel D955XBX MB. kick butt throughput. Okay, next level. Toss in the 965 w/HT enabled ... shazam! almost a 45% throughput increase and a reduction in power consumption due to the 65nm process. Intel warns everyone using these high end processors to use approved cases for extended cooling abilities ... OK. my box is an Antec TX1088 series, but the previous model to...
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Started with the D830 on the Intel D955XBX MB. kick butt throughput. Okay, next level. Toss in the 965 w/HT enabled ... shazam! almost a 45% throughput increase and a reduction in power consumption due to the 65nm process.

Intel warns everyone using these high end processors to use approved cases for extended cooling abilities ... OK. my box is an Antec TX1088 series, but the previous model to INTEL's recommendation. it has one fan for the graphics card ... not good enough - Enter the HOLE SAW - cutting a 4 1/8" in the side of the case and installing a 5.25" fan WITH a *FOUR* wire fan & grille, proved most beneficial and exceeds the airflow requirements for the CPU. the fan on the CPU is directly in it's airflow path along with the CPU ps components and the 4 Corsair xms2 1024 677 MHz memory chips

this box has 1 raptor in antec hd cooler, 3 250G deskstars, 2 cd/dvd DL burners & SB X-Fi Fata1ity - all powered by Antec 500W ps

at 100% load for several hours, the entire rig doesn't get hotter than 40C internal/60C CPU - total of SEVEN fans (2) front intake - (2) side (5.25 intake, 80mm exhaust)- (2) rear exhaust (1) top above PS (not counting cpu, ps and ATI card fans) BTW: no, it is not noizy either (3 fans are antec automatics) my refrigerator makes more noize.

this works - most older cases can be modified to increase overall airflow - hey, water cooled is good too as it will be the next project for the Intel D975XBX2 board w/qx6700 I build next month.

good luck - intel is on track with the upcoming products (did ya hear the one about the dual quad cores? it's coming!)

By 577traveler - Jan 24, 2007

Pros and Cons of Pentium 965

Strengths: The processor is really cool and fast, would highly recommend this

Weakness: Too over price.... Should be at most $650

Intel and the retailers overprices everything especially this Intel Pentium Extreme Processor 965. If they made it cheaper I would totally love to buy this cool processor and if i remember it correctly, it is the last line of the intel pentium processors.

By Pentium Extreme 965; - Oct 2, 2006