With Christmas around the corner, many of you will be treating yourselves to a new computer. Meanwhile, AMD is trying to tempt you with a shiny new hexacore CPU with today's release of the Phenom II X6 1100T, their new six-core flagship processor.

As the GeForce GTX 470 was to the GTX 480, the GTX 570 is a cut down version of the recently released GTX 580. Thermals and operating efficiency will remain much the same, as will the features. What has changed is the core configuration, operating frequencies, and memory bus width, all of which have been slightly reduced.

Asrock's Mini PC line has expanded with the recent introduction of the Vision 3D HTPC, by far their most ambitious model yet packing both a powerful Intel mobile processor and a mobile Nvidia GeForce graphics part.

What separates the Crosshair IV Extreme apart from the pack is Asus' CrossLinx 3 technology. This allows users to mix and match multiple graphics cards from both AMD and Nvidia, including models of different GPU generations.

The Samsung 470 Series 256GB has certainly surprised us. This quiet achiever came from nowhere to dominate our performance charts with stellar performance matching and sometimes surpassing current top SSD drives.

Nvidia claims the GeForce GTX 580 runs cooler and quieter than the GeForce GTX 480 while delivering better performance. That's an exciting prospect for gamers, so we look forward to put this Asus GeForce GTX 580 board through its paces.

Black Ops benchmarks and performance analysis -- Developed by Treyarch, Call of Duty: Black Ops debuts a new theme around the Cold War conflict. We test 19 graphics card configurations, using AMD and Nvidia GPUs that ranged from the uber expensive models to budget-minded offerings.

Here's the scenario: You're bored one night surfing the Internet and you decide to do a mock build of your dream PC. Whether through your favorite e-tailer or a boutique system builder, you find yourself piecing together the ultimate powerhouse. Price is not a concern -- you want the baddest system your (imaginary) money can buy.

When Cooler Master announced the new HAF X as the new flagship model of its 'High Air Flow' line, they had our immediate attention as we wondered how they could have improved the impeccable 932's formula.

Today marks an overhaul with AMD launching two new graphics cards designed to tackle the GTX 460. The Radeon HD 6870 and 6850 are being presented as the new mid-range offerings on AMD's line-up with a suggested retail of $239 and $199.

Medal of Honor benchmarks and performance analysis -- Medal of Honor is unique in that it uses two different graphics engines for single player and multiplayer modes, so all the performance testing we are about show you will only reflect output in the single player mode.

Mobile computer users that want a small and lightweight system usually have two options: an underpowered netbook or a pricey ultraportable. Lenovo describes the X100e as something in-between, claiming it has the portability and price of a netbook with the power of an ultraportable.

The Lian Li Mini Q PC-V354 is a rather unique product, and that's not an easy thing to achieve in today's chassis industry. The company has managed to shrink a full size ATX case into a MicroATX case, while still accommodating hefty enthusiast components like a full-size graphics card.

Earlier this summer HP expanded their popular Envy notebook line with the introduction of the Envy 14 and Envy 17 models. Building on the success of last year's Envy, the new models bring several new hardware options to the table as well as a lower introductory price point.

Civilization V benchmarks and performance analysis -- Sid Meier's Civilization V is a classic example of what many like to call a '4X' game, as players manage an empire where they explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate. We've decided to greet the title with a battery of GPU and CPU tests.

We've never seen a chassis that looks remotely like the Thermaltake Level 10. It's not the kind of case you walk by without noticing, and when you do see it, resisting the urge to move in for a closer look is impossible. Simply put, the Level 10 is a piece of art.

We take a look at Logitech's latest input devices, the new Gaming Keyboard G510 and the Wireless Gaming Mouse G700, comparing them to their well regarded predecessors.

AMD is replenishing its ranks with five new processors which include an ultra affordable dual-core model and a modestly priced hexa-core processor.

Nvidia is keen to point out that the GTS 450 is aimed at gamers on a budget. For users who want to play the latest games in resolutions of 1280x1024 to 1680x1050, the GTS 450 is meant to deliver.

The latest entry to the HAF line-up is their smallest model yet, the mid-tower HAF 912. Bearing a striking resemblance to the 922, the 912 is only marginally narrower and shorter, and let's not forget more affordable as well.

Recently there has been a surging demand for solid state drives that sacrifice space for speed and more affordable price tags, and manufacturers have been racing to deliver just that.

Asrock's latest Intel P55 motherboard features USB3 and SATA3 as well as some pretty impressive overclocking abilities that help make the P55 Extreme4 a very well-rounded motherboard.

Not only have we tested a huge range of graphics cards with Mafia II, but we will also look at the impact PhysX has on performance with and without a dedicated card.

We will be looking at three different gaming systems from the likes of Puget Systems, Maingear and Acer. All three vary quite a bit in core components, cooling options and appearance, but maintain the same sub-$2,000 price tag.

Those looking for top notch gaming performance and the best possible value will likely be interested in what the GeForce GTX 460 SLI configuration has to offer.

The Gateway SX series is one-third the size of a traditional desktop tower yet it still packs a sizable punch courtesy of an AMD quad-core processor, boasting a compact design that takes up very little desk space.

The prospect of acquiring a capable digital media player for $100 appeared bleak, until now. The search for the perfect affordable solution was reignited when Patriot sent us their new 'Box Office' media player.

StarCraft 2 benchmarks and performance analysis. On usual TechSpot fashion, now with the game out in stores we are taking an in-depth look at how your gaming system will handle StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. We have tested a huge range of graphics cards using three different resolutions and an equal number of visual quality presets.

Lenovo touts the C Series C315 as the perfect PC solution for tight spaces and budgets. Check out this entry-level all-in-one system that boasts of a 20-inch Lenovo multi-touch panel.

We put together three affordable AM3 motherboards to see just how much bang for your buck they offer. And we mean it, we hand-picked motherboards from Gigabyte, Asrock and MSI that are selling for less than $100.