Introduction

Back in the mid-1940s, a visionary by the name of Bugsy had what can only be described as a spiritual experience. It was an experience that at the time many deemed worthy of consideration only by those handing out flowers on street corners in preparation for their mass wedding ceremony, but as time progressed it was clear that Bugsy truly was a prophet with an ability to see into the future. For it was Bugsy who announced that a figure would arrive in the world that would change everything, basically turning the world on its ear, leading mankind to greater heights. However, Bugsy was also aware that once this God-like creature had completed his task he would need a castle befitting his stature. So Bugsy strode into the Nevada desert to build the paradise that would await the coming. But….what would people do in the middle of the desert awaiting the arrival of the post-pubescent Wayne Newton? Well, gamble, of course.

Personally, I’m not much of a gambler. Sitting down at a casino table registers about the same on my enjoyment scale as taking a great aunt grocery shopping, and tends to have the same end result as simply burning my money. I prefer to stick with things where I at least have some control over the outcome. However, all that seems to go out the window when it comes to AMD Phenom II X2 and X3s, especially if they are Black Edition. Why? Well, the explanation to that is simple. It’s a matter of enjoyment from the possibility of getting an extra core or two unlocked and stable, as well as finding out just how high I can push the OC and keep the system stable. Unlocking and overclocking are always a gamble and the results are never a sure thing, but this is a gamble that is never a loss and always fun all the way. AMD Phenom II CPUs aren’t just a great price/performance item, they are simply made to tinker with.

The new flagship of the AMD Phenom II X2 line is the 565 Black Edition. Out of the box, the Phenom II X2 565 Black Edition is a dual core CPU clocking in at 3.4Ghz. With 1MB of L2 and 6MB of L3 cache, the AMD Phenom II X2 565 Black Edition is no lightweight budget chip, despite its aggressive $113.00 price point. Add to this the unlocked multiplier that the Black Edition is renowned for, as well as the possibility of possibly unlocking an extra core or two, and you have a potent gaming and enthusiast chip ready to be pushed well beyond its stock limits. Thanks to the flexibility of AMD’s AM2+/AM3 platform, the Phenom II X2 565BE is ready to drop into a multitude of applications. Whether you are looking to upgrade your existing AM2+ or go into a new AM3 build, the Phenom II X2 565BE can fit right in. At $113.00, the Phenom II X2 565BE can fit into a budget system, but also has enough power to capably drive a higher end enthusiast/gaming build.