Speed doesn't makeup for wattage

Introduction
AMD makes a lot of processors, but this used to be the top-of-the-line, but now with the introduction of the Black Editions AMD does go higher then this in the X2 line, and there are now few reasons for buying this processor; however, if you find a good deal on it you could do fairly well with it.

Features
This X2 is dual-core (as the name implies), has 2MB L2 Cache, and runs at 3.0 GHz, it also use the socket AM2 platform, the TDP is 125w, and the HT link speed is 2000MHz.

Performance
The performance mildly outdoes the 5600+. All tests confirm that this fall well short of the Intel competition, but it does offer a improvement over the 5600+. And since the introduction of the Black Editions, it is a higher range mainstream processor.

Power Usage
There are some bad points too, it weighs in at 125w TDP! Which means you could run TWO Core 2 Duo processors for the same power usage, or you could go with a Quad Core! And running those two C2Ds you could beat this processor in performance in everything. So that power usage is way, way too high. Because the 5600+ is only 89w running at 2.8 GHz. The 0.2 GHz added does not out weigh the 36 watts difference in power demand.

There is another side
Not to diminish the performance of this CPU, the performance is higher then the 5600+ but lower then the Black Editions in AMD's line of X2 processors. If you are in the market for a CPU, this is in reality only for the die-hard enthusiast for most people its younger cousin the 5600+ is the better choice. Heat on this CPU is also an issue, which makes overclocking very difficult, running at 125w means the heatsink/fan combination must be a higher grade, therefore giving it a higher price.

Final Thoughts
This is now a midrange power sucking processor, if you want an AMD processor of this range yo will be much better off going with the 5600+. Buy this only if you can find a killer deal.