Last week, AMD slashed the price of its Athlon 64 3500+ processor by 30%, making the cheapest 939-pin chip more affordable for those saving pennies for a Doom 3-inspired upgrade. There's more to this price cut than the hefty discount, though. Because the 3500+ is AMD's least expensive 939-pin chip, the cut effectively lowers the price of entry for the entire Socket 939 platform.

Is the Athlon 64 3500+ the chip to have for budget-conscious enthusiasts? Is its 3500+ performance rating well-deserved? Read on to find out.