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This CNET Asia guide to the latest desktop processors for 2008 gets you up to date on what's out there to suit your needs, to what their key features and performance are, to an introduction of the newest and fastest processor in town, the Core i7.


An overview and the usual suspects
Processors are getting ever faster and more powerful, with multi-core chips taking computing performance to new heights. We look back at how the tiny silicon wafer has made such a profound impact on the personal computer.

Match the right processor to your computing needs
 Find out what type of user you are and which processor out there is right for your desktop needs in our at-a-glance table.

Basic anatomy of a computer
 Before we delve into performance, here's an idea of the processor's role and how everything works together in that beige box.

Need for speed: How fast is fast?
 For performance hounds who like more hard figures, we look at the latest and fastest processor right now in the market as a yardstick for speed.

Clash of the titans: 2009 and beyond
 With both Intel and AMD vying to launch the fastest and greatest, performance professors are coming head-to-head in an epic battle. Get a feel of where this is heading.

Processor milestones: Then to now
 Still interested? For those who like their history, here's an evolution of the processor.

More Resources From CNET Asia

The multicore era is upon us

Power demands and heat concerns meant that AMD and Intel couldn't simply keep ramping up clock speeds. The answer: More processing cores in one chip.

AMD demos "Shanghai"

AMD recently held a demonstration of its new quad-core, 45nm Opteron processor, Shanghai, to show a live demo of the working product in front of the assembled press.

Intel Core i7-965 Extreme Edition review

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.

Developers get boost for multicore apps

As Intel prepares for multiple cores in every machine, it is bringing new tools to the table for software developers.

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