Will splashing out on expensive RAM make a real difference to PC performance? And if so, how much should you buy? We supply the benchmarks and lay the details bare

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

All the options you could want, although it’s pricey

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

Plenty of connectors, but not much pizzazz

An uninspiring board with no strong selling point

A slightly bare but affordable media-centre board

An appealingly upmarket board at a fair price

A great combination of features at an excellent price makes this our new A-List board - suitable for just about everyone.

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

Stack your system full of software without paying a penny, with our guide to essential downloads