Best reason for buying a CPU near Christmas...

...is the cooler weather so you can overclock it.* I'm considering buying a used AMD Athlon XP Barton 2500+ (1.83GHz) CPU, AQXDA or AQXEA stepping, and overclocking it to at least 2.2GHz (11.0x multiplier), if not 2.3GHz (11.5x) or more. My motherboard is voltmodded to put out ~2.05V, as well, so as long as I can keep it cool, I can really crank on it.

And hey, this CPU will finally let me exceed 200MHz FSB on my ASUS A7N8X2.0 nForce2-400 board! My current Thoroughbred 1800+ (1.53GHz) is multiplier locked at 11.5x and tops out at about 1.8GHz (156MHz FSB). I could really use a 30% boost to my FSB.

On the other hand, if bidding goes too high, I'll probably hold off and wait for the prices to drop some more on Athlon XP-M (Mobile Barton) CPUs. I hear some of those can get to 2.5GHz, or 2.6GHz if you really work at it / get a good stepping.

Edit 12:05PM Nov 7: Eh, a mere 31% speed boost is not worth it. Better I wait and get an Athlon 64 in 2006 or 2007. Aren't I cheap? (so to speak) :)

*-(assuming you're in the northern hemisphere - however, it did once snow on Christmas in New Zealand, so it isn't necessarily entirely dependent on being in the northern hemisphere)