Shop for processors

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 6 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

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good
• Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 1 review

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:
  4.5 stars Spectacular
• 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: 4.5 stars out of 4 reviews

Specs: Processor, Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600

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

Specs: Processor, Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: AMD's new Phenom X4 9850 is overpriced and outclassed compared with its Intel-based quad-core competition. If PC vendors can use this chip to make cheap systems (as they did with older Phenoms), we might have nicer things to say, but as a DIY part at this price, we can't recommend AMD's latest quad-core CPU. Read review

Specs: Processor, AMD Phenom X4 9850

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: The CPU market is due for a lot of upheaval over the next 12 months, so you might be wise to wait for a clearer picture before plunking down $1,000 or so on Intel's new Core 2 Extreme QX9650 quad-core desktop processor. But if you want to claim ownership of the fastest multicore CPU around today, look no further. Read review

Specs: Processor, Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650

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

Specs: Processor, Intel Quad-Core Xeon E5420

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent
• Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 4 reviews

The Bottom Line: If you thought dual cores were over the top, get ready. Intel presents the Core 2 Extreme QX6700, a single CPU with four distinct processing cores. At $999, the first quad-core CPU will remain an enthusiast part for a while, but as a glimpse of the future, it's clear that clock speed is out and core counts are in. Read review

Specs: Processor, Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 2 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 9600

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

Specs: Processor ( Mobile ), Intel Core 2 Duo T8300, 478-pin Micro FCPGA

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

Specs: Processor ( Mobile ), Intel Celeron 550, 478-pin Micro FCPGA

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent
• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: The quad-core Core 2 Extreme QX6850 keeps the desktop CPU performance belt tied firmly around Intel's waist at a price that helps offset the lack of sizable performance gains. New products at the end of the year may outclass this new chip when they arrive, but for now, the QX6850 reigns supreme. Read review

Specs: Processor, Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850

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

Specs: Processor ( Mobile ), Intel Core Duo T2600, Micro FCPGA6

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

Specs: Processor, AMD Sempron LE-1250 Energy Efficient

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 4.5 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 E6600

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

Specs: Processor ( Mobile ), AMD Turion 64 X2 mobile technology TL-60

• CNET Editor rating:
  Not yet rated
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 6 reviews

Specs: Processor, AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+

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

Specs: Processor ( Mobile ), Intel Core 2 Duo T9300, 478-pin Micro FCPGA