2 GHz - 2.4 GHz Processors

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.

Specs: Processor, AMD Phenom X4 9600

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.

Specs: Processor, AMD Phenom X4 9500

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.

Specs: Processor, Intel Core 2 Duo E6600

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.

Specs: Processor, Intel Core 2 Duo E6400

Specs: Processor, AMD Sempron LE-1250 Energy Efficient

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

Specs: Processor, Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600

Specs: Processor ( Mobile ), Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 478-pin Micro FCPGA

Specs: Processor ( Mobile ), Intel Pentium T3400, Micro FCPGA

Specs: Processor upgrade, Intel Xeon