AMD’s dual-core processors took PC performance to new heights last year, but its flagship FX series clung on stubbornly to its single-core roots. The argument was that with so few games taking advantage of sophisticated multithreading, the key force behind high frame rates and smooth gameplay was to throw raw speed at the problem.

But with more and more applications geared towards multicore CPUs, the appearance of the dual-core FX-60 was timely. It’s still primarily a chip aimed at gamers and ultra-power users, and so the benchmark score of 1.30 is of no surprise (30 percent faster than our high-spec Pentium D 840 test rig). With each core clocked at 2.6GHz, the FX-60 has lost 200MHz of clock speed compared to its single-cored predecessor, the FX-57, but each core retains 1MB of Level 2 cache.

The components are of a similar calibre as the CPU. There’s 1GB of RAM, as well as a pair of hard disks: two 250GB running in a speedy RAID0 array for speed and 500GB storage. A pair of optical drives grace the front of the smart chassis (behind the front door) – one is a very fast dual-layer DVD-RAM writer and a DVD-ROM.

If you work with RAW image files, or edit music or video, the FX60 Extreme has the potential to revolutionise the way you work – it simply didn’t blink while we were using it. Photoshop CS 2 opened instantaneously, and we couldn’t get it to slow down no matter how complex the effects we applied to an image.

The gaming hardware doesn’t quite match the processor. Nonetheless, the new 7900 GT is a great choice that will play all but the very latest releases at 1280 x 1024 with full detail settings. Indeed, it still eased through our 3D benchmarks. Half-Life 2 ran at 93fps, Far Cry managed 72fps.

We liked the peripherals: Logitech’s MX3000 Laser wireless keyboard and mouse are among the best on the market and the BenQ 91G+ LCD monitor is a fine choice too (note the lesser 91G is pictured). This offers decent colour reproduction (though not to a professional level) and a decent 8ms response time.

Other features include Creative’s 2500 2.1 speaker set – perfectly adequate for most gamers and occasional movie watchers – and an HDTV digital tuner.

It all adds up to a very well thought out and quiet system which delivers where it counts and holds back in the right places to keep the price down. We like the look of the Thermaltake Soprano case too. Add to this T.I.’s decent 2yr RTB warranty and you’ve a gem of a system. Trinity International hasn’t sent us a bad PC yet and this is another winner – the best you can get for four grand.