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• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 10 reviews

The Bottom Line: Thanks to an expensive new motherboard requirement, Intel's new Core i7 desktop processors will remain enthusiast and professional-level parts until more affordable complementary hardware comes out later next year. Speed never comes cheap, however, and if you're willing to spend for it now, you'll find yourself in possession of the fastest CPU on the market. Read review

Specs: Processor, Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition I7-965, FC-LGA8

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: Even if it's a relative power hog, the Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 X2 brings so much speed and utility to the table it's hard for us to recommend another midrange 3D card. Only the particularly power conscious or those who play games with known multichip scaling issues should look elsewhere. Read review

Specs: 2 GPUs - ATI Radeon HD 4850, 2560 x 1600, 2 GB, PC

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 1 review

Specs: Motherboard, Micro ATX, NVIDIA GeForce 7025 / nForce 630a, 1000 MHz, 9.6 in x 8.7 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.7 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 25 reviews

The Bottom Line: If you don't mind sacrificing a few convenient features for truly portable design, Creative's Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook turns your laptop into a bona fide sound system. Read review

Specs: PC Card, Microsoft Windows XP SP2, Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4, 7.1 channel surround, PC Card

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 6 reviews

The Bottom Line: AMD's new high-end dual-core CPU offers plenty of bang for the buck, outpacing Intel's Pentium 965 Extreme Edition, which costs $200 more. Sounds like a good deal, but wait to see what Intel's next-gen Core 2 Duo chips have to offer when they debut later this year. Read review

Specs: Processor, AMD Athlon 64 X2

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 reviews

The Bottom Line: AMD's new ATI Radeon HD 4850 is a solid midrange 3D card that will run pretty much anything, and it boasts some forward-looking features to boot. It might be worth waiting for the price to drop just a bit, at which point this card will become much more attractive. Read review

Specs: ATI Radeon HD 4850, 2560 x 1600, 512 MB, PC, 2

• CNET Editor rating:
  2.5 stars Average

  Overall score: 5.3 (2.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: ATI's Radeon X300 SE will satisfy users looking for a good basic 2D video card, but spend a few more bucks if 3D is important to you. Read review

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.3 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: We don't think most gamers shopping for a midrange 3D card are looking for power efficiency, but for those conscientious few, the EVGA GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 Superclocked is the card for you. Otherwise, you can get noticeably more performance and capability from an only slightly more expensive ATI card. Read review

Specs: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260, 2560 x 1600, 896 MB, PC

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.5 stars Spectacular

  Overall score: 9.0 (4.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 27 reviews

The Bottom Line: Intel's Core 2 Duo E6700 offers the best price-to-performance ratio we've seen in a desktop chip. For half the cost of AMD's top-of-the-line chip, you get identical if not superior performance and better power efficiency. AMD surprised us last year with its completely dominant dual-core chips, but Intel regains the crown with Core 2 Duo. Read review

Specs: Processor, Intel Core 2 Duo E6700

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 3 reviews

Manufacturer description: Enjoy Full HD 1080p multimedia home-theater entertainment Flexible graphics alternatives Longer life and higher efficiency Minimize noise and power consumption when temporarily away TurboV Turbo Key Enjoy high-end sound system ... Read more

Specs: Motherboard, ATX, NVIDIA GeForce 8300, 2600 MHz, 12 in x 9.6 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 2 reviews

Specs: Motherboard, Micro ATX, NVIDIA GeForce 6100 / NVIDIA nForce 430 MCP, 1000 MHz, 8.1 in x 9.6 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Manufacturer description: ASUS Q-Fan Turbo Key CrashFree BIOS 3 EZ-Flash 2 V-core solid capacitors MyLogo2 High definition audio Gigabit LAN GreenASUS

Specs: Motherboard, Micro ATX, Intel G41 Express / Intel ICH7, 1333 MHz, 9.6 in x 7.6 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 2 reviews

Manufacturer description: This motherboard supports the PCIe 2.0 devices for double speed and bandwidth which enhances system performance. The P6T Deluxe series breaks the boundaries to bring you the multi-GPU choice ... Read more

Specs: Motherboard, ATX, Intel X58 Express / Intel ICH10R, 12 in x 9.6 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 22 reviews

The Bottom Line: Creative's new Sound Blaster X-Fi cards impress with their audio quality and feature sets, but they don't come cheap. Read review

Specs: PCI, Microsoft Windows XP SP2, 7.1 channel surround, PCI

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: SDHC Memory Card, 16 GB

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 2.0 stars out of 3 reviews

Manufacturer description: P5GC-MX with Intel 945GC chipset inside supports Intel dual-core CPU and features 800MHz FSB, PCI Express x 16, Serial ATA interface, high performance integrated graphics engine, dual-channel DDR2 memory, and ... Read more

Specs: Motherboard, Micro ATX, Intel 945GC Express / Intel ICH7, 800 MHz, 9.6 in x 7.2 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.0 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: AMD's new Phenom quad-core CPU has little to recommend it over competing chips from Intel. The Phenom is marginally less expensive, but not enough to make up for its subpar performance. Unless AMD drops prices more aggressively, it looks like Intel will maintain its grasp on the CPU market for the foreseeable future. Read review

Specs: Processor, AMD Phenom X4 9500

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.1 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 26 reviews

The Bottom Line: The ATI Radeon 9200 redefines the level of 3D performance for budget graphics cards, but it still trails the competition. Read review

Specs: ATI Radeon 9200, 2048 x 1536 / 85 Hz, 128 MB / 128 MB (max), PC, 2

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Manufacturer description: The Intel Pentium processor with Intel dual-core technology delivers great desktop and mobile performance, low power enhancements, and multitasking for everyday computing.

Specs: Processor, Intel Pentium E5300

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 11 reviews

Manufacturer description: This ultra-affordable upgrade allows you to start enjoying an audio experience and quality that's not possible with basic on-board audio thanks to 24-Bit ADVANCED HD and EAX ADVANCED HD ... Read more

Specs: USB, Microsoft Windows XP SP1, Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4, 5.1 channel surround, None

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Manufacturer description: P5KPL-CM with Intel G31 chipset inside supports Intel Quad-core CPU and features 1600(O.C)/1333/1066/800 MHz FSB, PCI Express x 16, Serial ATA interface, high performance integrated ... Read more

Specs: Motherboard, Micro ATX, Intel G31 Express / Intel ICH7, 1600 MHz, 9.6 in x 8 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 2 reviews

Manufacturer description: The P5Q series of motherboards is equipped with the exclusive ASUS' EPU (Energy Processing Unit). This energy-conserving series is based on the upcoming Intel P45 chipset, and features full support ... Read more

Specs: Motherboard, ATX, Intel P45 Express / Intel ICH10R, 1600 MHz, 12 in x 9.6 in

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Manufacturer description: AMD Sempron processors for desktop and mobile products offer best in class performance, compatibility with all the applications you need, and the reliability of AMD processors.

Specs: Processor, AMD Sempron LE-1250 Energy Efficient

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 1 review

Specs: Processor, Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 7 reviews

The Bottom Line: Intel's Core 2 Duo line marks the end of AMD's run of dominance through the dual-core desktop-processor landscape. Not only are Intel's new chips fast, efficient, and well designed, but they're also aggressively priced and sure to send ripples though the desktop PC industry. If you are buying or building a new computer, we recommend that a Core 2 Duo chip be at its center. Read review

Specs: Processor, Intel Core 2 Duo E6300