Paul Alcorn

Paul Alcorn

Deputy Managing Editor

As a teenager, Paul scraped up enough money to buy a 486-powered PC with a turbo button (yes, a turbo button). Back when floppies were still popular he was already chasing after the fastest spinners for his personal computer, which led him down the long and winding storage road, covering enterprise storage. His current focus is on consumer processors, though he still keeps a close eye on the latest storage news. In his spare time, you’ll find Paul hanging out with his kids or indulging his love of the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals.

Articles by: Paul Alcorn

Core i9-13900KS

Intel Core i9-13900KS Review: The World's First 6 GHz 320W CPU

By Paul Alcorn published

We put Intel's Core i9-13900KS, the first 6 GHz CPU to market, through our extensive battery of tests to see how it fares.

CPU Hierarchy

CPU Benchmarks and Hierarchy 2023: Processor Ranking Charts

By Paul Alcorn published

All of today's desktop CPU benchmarks compared, including Intel's 12th-Gen Core series and AMD's Ryzen Zen 3 and Threadripper.

Tofino

Intel Sunsets Network Switch Biz, Kills RISC-V Pathfinder Program (Updated)

By Paul Alcorn published

Intel announced that it would end further development of its network switch business. Meanwhile, the company also ended its RISC-V Pathfinder program without any notice or announcement.

Best Thermal Paste 2022

Best Thermal Paste for CPUs 2023: 90 Pastes Tested and Ranked

By Paul Alcorn published

We tested 90 different thermal pastes to help you find the best one to help cool your CPU.

How to Check Your CPU Temperature

By Paul Alcorn published

How can you check your CPU's temperature and what's a good or normal range? We break it down for you.

Intel stock image

RIP, Overclockable Intel Non-K Chips, We Hardly Knew Ye

By Paul Alcorn published

Intel's new Non-K 13th-Gen Raptor Lake processors aren't overclockable like their predecessors.

VROC

Intel Kills VROC Prematurely, Then Changes Course

By Paul Alcorn published

Intel unexpectedly killed off its Virtual Raid on CPU (VROC) technology, but then changed course and decided to support the tech for the foreseeable future.

Renoir

AMD Quietly Lists 31 New CPU Vulnerabilities, Issues Patch Guidance

By Paul Alcorn published

AMD has issued guidance for patching 31 new CPU vulnerabilities that impact both its consumer Ryzen and data center EPYC processors.

Intel logo on a blue background

Intel Quietly Resumes Russia Support, Unblocks Software Downloads (Updated with Microsoft Comment)

By Paul Alcorn published

After pausing earlier in 2022, Intel is now allowing Russian users to download driver software.

YMTC

Biwin Demos Acer Predator GM7 SSD With Banned Chinese Fab's Flash, Planned for US Market

By Paul Alcorn published

Biwin demoed its Acer-branded Predator GM7 SSD with a banned NAND maker's flash at CES 2023.

Core i9-13900K

Intel Launches $699 Core i9-13900KS, the World's First 6 GHz 320W CPU: Available Now

By Paul Alcorn published

Intel announced that its Core i9-13900KS, the world's first 6GHz desktop CPU, is available now for $699.

Sapphire Rapids

Intel Launches Sapphire Rapids Fourth-Gen Xeon CPUs and Ponte Vecchio Max GPU Series

By Paul Alcorn published

Intel launched its Fourth-Gen Xeon Scalable Sapphire Rapids processors along with its Xeon MAX CPUs and Max GPU Series.

Ryzen 7000

AMD Ryzen 9 7900, Ryzen 7 7700, and Ryzen 5 7600 Review: Zen 4 Gets More Affordable

By Paul Alcorn published

We put AMD's three new lower-power 65W Zen 4 Ryzen 7000 processors through our full gamut of CPU benchmarks.

Best PS5 SSDs

Best SSD for PS5 in 2022: Speedy NVMe Storage for Your Console

By Paul Alcorn published

We recommend the best SSDs for the Sony PS5 for every need and budget based on our extensive lab tests.

CXL

Adata Teases First SMI-Powered PCIe 5.0 SSD, New CXL DDR5 Card

By Paul Alcorn published

Adata showed off its new PCIe 5.0 SSD and a CXL DDR5 memory device at CES 2023.

MI300

AMD Instinct MI300 Data Center APU Pictured Up Close: 13 Chiplets, 146 Billion Transistors

By Paul Alcorn published

AMD revealed its 15-chiplet 146-billion transistor Instinct MI300 at CES 2023.

AMD

AMD Unveils Three Ryzen 7000X3D V-Cache Chips, Three New 65W Non-X CPUs, Too

By Paul Alcorn published

AMD whipped the covers off three new Ryzen 7000 processors with its revolutionary 3D V-Cache tech, along with three other models that expand the roster of standard chips with lower-cost models.

AMD

AMD Brings Chiplets, Zen 4, RDNA 3 and XDNA AI to Laptops: 5nm Dragon Range and 4nm Phoenix Arrive

By Paul Alcorn published

Mendocino, Barcelo-R, and Rembrandt-R also make an appearance.

Lisa Su

AMD CES 2023 Keynote Live Blog: Ryzen 7000X3D, 65W CPUs, and RDNA 3 Announcements

By Paul Alcorn last updated

AMD CEO Lisa Su takes to the CES 2023 stage tonight in Las Vegas to fill us in on the company's newest products.

Intel Raptor Lake

Intel Launches 16 New 13th-Gen Raptor Lake Desktop CPUs: Higher Pricing and Power Consumption

By Paul Alcorn published

Intel released 16 new Raptor Lake CPUs with more performance in tandem with higher gen-on-gen power consumption and pricing.

Intel Raptor Lake

Intel Launches 13th-Gen Mobile With 5.6 GHz 24-Core i9-13980HX, HX, H, P, and U Series

By Paul Alcorn published

Intel announced a wide range of 13th-Gen Raptor Lake mobile processors, including the 24-core i9-13980HX, HX, H, P and U series mobile Raptor Lake processors.

Alder Lake

Intel Quietly Raises Prices for 12th-Gen Alder Lake CPUs, Now Cost More Than 13th-Gen

By Paul Alcorn published

Intel raised the pricing on its Alder Lake processors across the board.

Intel

Intel Breaks Up Graphics Group, Raja Koduri Moves Back to Chief Architect Role

By Paul Alcorn published

Intel announced that it would split its AXG graphics group to address the gaming and data center markets separately.

Core i9-13900K vs Ryzen 9 7950X

Intel Core i5-13600K vs AMD Ryzen 7 7700X and Ryzen 5 7600X Face Off

By Paul Alcorn published

We put the Core i5-13600K and Ryzen 7 7700X and Ryzen 5 7600X through a six-round fight to see who comes out on top.

Best CPU for Gaming

The Best CPU for Gaming in 2023

By Paul Alcorn last updated

Here is the best CPU for gaming for the money, based on our benchmarks. These processors offer the best performance in their price ranges and most are suitable for overclocking.

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