CPU Reviews & Articles

AMD Phenom II X3 720 BE & X4 810 Review

AMD's initial Phenom II product release was a very positive one, and demonstrated that the redesigned, 45nm version of the Phenom quad core could be successful against the Core 2 Duo and Quad, while offering superb value and overclocking. The foray into the world of Socket AM3 brings a few more changes, such as a lower-cache X4 model and a hotrod X3 Black Edition that is just itching to be overclocked.

AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE Review

With their third official Phenom-based release, AMD has saved the best for last. The 45nm Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition features a full 3.0 GHz clock speed, 6MB of L3 cache and overclocking headroom unheard of for an AMD processor. We'll be checking out AMD's newest quad and putting it through the benchmark grinder to see how it stacks up.

Intel Core i7-965 XE & Core i7-920 Review

The Intel Nehalem platform has finally emerged in the form of the Core i7 processor line, and it brings with it a new architecture and a host of features and options we've never seen on an Intel CPU, as well as the return of an old friend. We will be checking out both the Core i7-965 Extreme Edition and Core i7 920 processors and examining their performance against the very best from both Intel and AMD.

AMD Phenom X4 9950 BE & 9350e Review

AMD is taking the old "hit 'em high & hit 'em low" adage to heart with their latest set of product releases, offering up the unlocked 2.6 GHz Phenom X4 9950 Black Edition alongside the low-power 2.0 GHz Phenom X4 9350e. These two processors couldn't be more different in terms of clock speed and TDP rating, so check out our review for performance, overclocking and power usage results.

AMD Phenom X3 8750 Review

The multi-tiered Phenom lineup has had to wait a bit for the updated B3 core to make the rounds, but the new triple-core X3 is finally here. The 2.4 GHz Phenom X3 8750 is the flagship of the triple-core line, running at a full 2.4 GHz, but at a lower power envelope. Our review will determine how well a Phenom X3 handles our system and gaming benchmarks, and see how high it can overclock.

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Review

Enthusiasts have been waiting on the 45nm Wolfdale to appear since Intel first announced the line. The 3.16 GHz Core 2 Duo E8500 sits at the top of the Wolfdale food chain, and offers a very compelling mix of high performance, low power usage and insane overclocking. Check out our review and see how it stacked up against some of the top processors from both AMD and Intel.

AMD Phenom X4 9850 Black Edition Review

The B3 is here, and the X4 is back. This spells good news for AMD fans, as the Phenom X4 9850 showcases the latest B3 core revision, and at a higher 2.5 GHz clock speed. This is also a "Black Edition" release, which means an unlocked multiplier, and in addition to the standard system and gaming benchmarks, we'll be seeing how far we can overclock it.

Back in Black: Phenom 9600 Black Edition Review

The AMD Black Edition processors are a very innovative product, which allow mainstream users to get an unlocked model at virtually the same price as it unlocked counterpart. The Phenom 9600 Black Edition is the latest in this line, offering a 2.3 GHz quad core processor, and the prospect of even higher speeds.

Intel Skulltrail Performance Preview

Now that even quad core processors have dropped down within reach of the mainstream buyer, what's a true enthusiast to do? Well, Intel just might have the answer, suggesting you take a little trip down the Skulltrail. This dual-CPU, 8-core behemoth brings server technology to the desktop, and provides four PCI x16 slots with certified ATI CrossFire and NVIDIA SLI support.

AMD Phenom 9900 Performance Preview

After a somewhat disappointing Phenom 9500 and 9600 release in 2007, AMD is looking for much better results in 2008. One of their prime goals is to upgrade the clock speed of the Phenom, while maintaining its mainstream pricing strategy. The 2.6 GHz Phenom 9900 will makes its first appearance in early-2008, and we have a performance preview of what to expect.