Rated: 100% (3 votes)
Loading ...Megatesting
James Gorbold
This week I’m stuck in the lab trying to benchmark as many CPUs as possible before:
a> I go mad staring at these four walls
b> I go mad watching Spode cycling around like a fool in the video in the multitasking test
c> Julie (our production editor) has a breakdown waiting for the results
d> Intel and AMD decide to launch any more CPUs
All this testing is for this year’s annual CPU megatest (to be published in Issue 53, on sale 20th December), in which we will be reviewing every desktop and workstation CPU that you can buy right now. Last year (Issue 41) that involved testing 54 CPUs, but thanks to the core wars there are far more CPUs to choose from this year. This is great news for consumers, but a nightmare for us as we have to test more than 60 different CPUs in a multitude of different benchmarks.
Highlights of this year’s CPU megatest will be the debut appearance of the AMD Phenom X4 processors plus a whole gang of 45nm CPUs from Intel.
So who will be king? Well, that’s up to the benchmarks and the prices. One thing however is certain, with more than 500 benchmark results this year’s megatest will be the definitive CPU buyers guide.
The benchmarks are a bit long and when you finally get to the video it’s like “god I’ve still got another few mins!”. The trials bikers vid has lost its appeal now although the little tyre bump at the end will be cool forever. Look forward to reading the review James. I consider the CPC CPU, GPU and PSU megatests to be the most valuable reviews out there. TFI Friday!
w00t! will help me decide what to buy at christmas. Looking for a good cpu for gaming and internet, you know, just the general stuff.
But mainly I am struggling on the brink of destruction @ what motherboard to buy! My friend [AaronPcz] is a subscriber and got his issue of CPC today. We were staring longingly (well, I was, he has a P5K premium, 2Gb dominator and Q6600, dam him) at the motherboards tested. The Gigabyte Motherboard before the P5K premium seems a great bargain, and since it got the approved award, it gets me interested.
But the other motherboard I am looking hard at is, of course, the Abit Fatal1ty FP-IN9 SLi. Its a legend of a board, and its fantastic value.
Anyway, its CPU problems atm, so I’m off to scan to check out what they have to offer. And since its down the round, its convenient.
I would just like to say “Hold on in there dude!”
These tests (and the mag as a whole) are worth every moment of the bone crushing boredom you testers must go through on every test and item.
I consider myself as a part time builder, (as well as a Geek according to the wife!) eagerly anticipate all these test and devour each and every issue cover to cover.
The way you explain each test and objectively lay out your results means i am able to get the best possible build for the job at hand.
This is greatly appreciated and is why i am a subscriber.
I eagerly await each issue and would like to say “thanks, bear with it as some people think you guys are great!”
Sounds rather sucky up doesn’t it?
Sorry but i think it needs said 
Given that my AMD 1700+ CPU is only still holding it’s head above water thanks to the X1900XT it’s clinging to for dear life I’ll certainly be in the market for a new CPU real soon, and whilst I’ll be needing a new mobo et al to go with it, until I’ve chosen a ‘brain’ for the new rig all such discussions are academic. So I look forward for the bang per buck analysis as the first step on my road to a new platform.