A world first on the desktop, Phenom is good but a long way from outstanding.

Impressive technology, but increasing cores doesn’t necessarily increase performance.

Performance per watt has taken a backward step, but it’s very fast with the right apps.

This first of a new generation is only a little faster than the old, but its potential is clearly huge

Nothing incredible in terms of design, but it’s an impressively cheap way to get quad-core in your PC.

There is only one card in this picture. No, really. Okay, let’s discuss this.

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.

Big, brash and versatile, but for top-end PCs only. Enthusiasts will love it.

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?

An interesting concept But performance is determined by drivers and ultimately it smacks of gimmick.

Can Intel steal Phenom's performance thunder with this top-end quad core chip?

A feast of features for those willing to pay

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

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

While Intel is rolling out new designs, AMD's focus is on getting the most out of its existing Phenom II process. The AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black edition is just what the doctor ordered.

The latest iteration of the Pentium 4, code named Prescott, is an interesting development for a few reasons. First off, it represents Intel's entry to the world of 90nm (90 nanometre, or 0.09 micron) fabrication for processors. For the uninitiated, all this means is the size of individual components on the processor core have been shrunk to even smaller levels. It's a natural part of processor evolution to shrink the size of components, as it allows more transistors to be packed into a smaller space, reduces heat and resistance, and this all leads to faster CPUs.

Chance or coincidence? AMD releases the Athlon 64, specifically targeted at the consumer performance market, and only days later Intel announces a secret processor aimed squarely at the same MHz-hungry community: the Pentium 4 Extreme Edition (P4EE).

A superbly packaged do-everything mobile workhorse that will appeal to business users and gadget freaks alike.