We’ve been hearing about it for years but AMD is finally launching their Fusion architecture into the mid-range desktop market with the Lynx platform’s A8 and A6 processors alongside A75 and A55 motherboards.  These accelerated processing units (or APUs) integrate a quad core CPU, 400 shader GPU and fully functional Northbridge onto a single die [...]

Back in January, we were absolutely convinced that we had seen the last hurrah for the venerable quad-core 45nm ‘Deneb’ die when we reviewed the Phenom II X4 975 Black Edition processor. However, apparently we were wrong as AMD is now releasing the X4 980 Black Edition; a processor sporting an impressive 3.7Ghz core speed. [...]

There is no denying the fact that AMD has been hell-bent on providing the CPU market with some much-needed value options as of late.  While this approach hasn’t led to any direct competitors against Intel’s high-end products, there are several Phenom and Athlon processors that feature an excellent price / performance ratio.  Today, AMD is [...]

With Intel still adhering to their tick / tock release strategy, it was only a matter of time until a new architecture was introduced and it’s name is Sandy Bridge.  Today marks the launch of no less than eight new desktop processors based on a highly refined 32nm manufacturing process and ranging in price from [...]

AMD’s Phenom II X6 series has proven to be exceptionally popular since its launch in April, and much of this can be attributed to the simple fact that it offers the only six-core processors that are within the reach of the average consumer. Today, AMD is launching a slight refresh to this series, with their [...]

Enthusiasts and gamers alike are aware that AMD has long been catering to the overclockers among us with their unlocked yet affordable Black Edition processors.  Meanwhile, Intel’s “unlocked” products have largely been reserved for their ultra high-end Extreme Edition products but that is all about to change with the introduction of the K-series of i7 [...]

When Intel’s Clarkdale processors were first released, they opened up the 1156 platform to a whole new market of budget conscious buyers.  A low-cost, 32nm processor like the i3 540 may not be immediately interesting to the vast majority of enthusiasts but considering this efficient chip sports four threads and a core speed slightly above [...]

For the better part of the last year, there had been rumors of an AMD 6-core processor family that would soon be introduced.  Well, that day has come and in this review we focus upon two products from AMD’s Phenom X6  family: the 1090T Black Edition and the slightly more pedestrian 1055T.  Are they enough [...]

It has been a long time coming.  Intel’s six core processors have been talked about since the Nehalem architecture was first introduced and with the Core i7 980X, Gulftown has finally seen the light of day.  Naturally, this new processor is expensive but with six physical cores and 12 threads, can it perform up to [...]

In recent years, Intel used Nehalem architecture to push both a high end platform with their Bloomfield-based CPUs and their newly released Lynnfield generation of LGA1156 chips.  Today they reveal their more moderately-priced Westmere series with the introduction of the Clarkdale desktop and Arrandale mobile CPUs.  In this review we will be looking at the [...]