AMD’s next generation of CPUs brings 45nm technology and higher clock speeds - but is that enough to compete with Intel’s latest and greatest?

The move to a new platform brings credible new challengers to Intel’s Core 2 processors

A smartly engineered processor, but for today’s applications it’s lacking in bang per buck.

An old standard, but one that still provides decent performance at a great price.

As you can see from the performance table, Core i7 is still a safe bet in terms of sheer speed, though the case for AMD is not as simple as that.

A capable little package at an attractive price

An uninspiring board with no strong selling point

Cheap, but there’s not much here to cheer about

A cheap, lightweight choice for single-core applications, but you get the performance you pay for.

Both graphics card giants have unleashed powerful new additions to their ranks recently, and their battle for supremacy is hotter than ever. We put the new arrivals through their paces

With so many factors to consider, choosing a motherboard can be a bewildering exercise. We put 11 models through their pace to find the ultimate in performance, flexibility and value

There may be two main CPU manufacturers, but picking the right processor is anything but simple. We put 51 CPUs through their paces

A mighty dual-GPU board that makes light work of even today’s toughest DirectX 10 games.

A mighty dual-GPU board that makes light work of even today’s toughest DirectX 10 games

Both AMD and Nvidia are now shipping chipsets with hybrid graphics. So what is it, and is it a good idea for games? See what our tests revealed.

A diverse family including some stellar CPUs and numerous also-rans.

A diverse family including some stellar CPUs and numerous also-rans

Intel’s three new CPUs promise Core i7 power in an economical and efficient package. We put them through their paces to see whether small really is beautiful

A competent card with older games, but it can’t handle the new generation of games.