Best Budget Processor for Overclocking

Why it's a best pick:
AMD’s Athlon X2 4850 processor already is factory clocked at a fast 2.5 GHz, but with the proper DDR2 RAM and motherboard, the processor should have no trouble reaching overclocks of 3.0 Ghz. Most processors on this list will top out at 3.0 ghz, but this one has 2x512 ... read full review

Why it's a best pick:
Intel’s Dual Core E2180 processor benefits from a relatively slow 800 Mhz front side bus, making it great for overclocking using standard DDR2-800 or 1066 RAM. These Intel processors have their multipliers locked, meaning you cannot simply change multipliers to overclo... read full review

Why it's a best pick:
In many situations, the slowest processor will often overclock the highest if the other components of the system are up to par. The slower 800 Mhz front sude bus makes overclocking the E2100 easy. If DDR2-800 RAM is purchased, a simple change of the front side bus will ... read full review

Why it's a best pick:
This is the only quad core processor on the list because Intel's quad core processors are too expensive for overclockers on a strict budget. AMD’s Phenom 9850 Black Edition comes clocked at 2.5 Ghz from the factory, but the unlocked multiplier allows speeds up to 2.8 G... read full review