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In contrast to the Phenom II X4 810, the Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition looks like a very compelling proposition whether just as a drop-in CPU replacement for your AM2+ system or as part of a completely new AM3 based system.

For a start, we feel dual-core is the minimum nowadays and the jump up to three cores is discernible even to the casual user, so AMD's triple-core products definitely have a place in the market. Add in the backwards compatibility of these AM3 CPUs and you have a recipe for a great low cost upgrade path for existing AMD system owners.

Likewise, if you're considering a complete system overhaul, there's as much reason to opt for AMD as Intel, assuming we're talking about a low budget system that is - Intel still holds the performance crown with its Core i7 platform but you'll need to fork out the best part of £500 just for the CPU and motherboard.

Combining all the above with the fact that the 720 Black Edition has an unlocked multiplier, for really easy overclocking, and you have a CPU that comes highly recommended. We managed to up our sample from 2.8GHz to 3.6Ghz by doing nothing more than going into the BIOS and changing the multiplier from 14 to 18. No extra voltage, no playing around with other timings or frequencies, just one trip into the BIOS, a reboot, and a free 800MHz. What's more, using AMD's OverDrive software you could even do this right from your Windows desktop.

Verdict

It may not set any records but the AMD Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition's three cores give you a decent amount of multitasking potential and enough of a boost over dual-core to be worth considering. Also, when you factor in its huge headroom for overclocking, you have our current budget CPU of choice.

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