Build Your Own

The EFiX makes it possible to install Leopard, unhacked, on a PC. We find out how from the masterminds themselves.

AMD and Intel are both pushing their quad-core offerings as the key to better system performance, but do you really need to spend the money on four cores when two will do?

Let's settle the myth about Macs being more expensive.

Macs have come a very long way and can pretty much do everything a Windows PC can Apple says. So why do I still have a PC right beside me?

We look in detail at a diverse cross-section of cases and answer some key questions: What are the features? Which is the loudest? Which provides the best value?

Our new component charts may not be perfect (we're working on that), but they're still full of useful information. Click here for our quick access guide.

The right components can help reduce power consumption, but how you use your computer is also important.

Silverstone’s Crown CW03 HTPC case is explored and used to build a full system. Various parameters are then measured to assess the case’s functionality when it is used for different HTPC functions.

We compare three and four core AMD Phenom X CPUs, along with a large number of Athlon 64 X2 and Intel Core 2 two and four core models.

Western Digital's VelociRaptor is here, and it comes with a bang. The new 10,000 RPM 2.5" SATA hard drive's primal scream is loud enough to intimidate the competition.

We explain how to install a Solid State Disk (SSD) in your notebook computer, while retaining a hard disk for data storage.

Yesterday we chose our components, today we’ll test them. Does our $500 gamer make the grade?

How much performance can $500 buy? We set out to find the answer. Today we show you our choice of components. Tomorrow we present test results.

Go out and about... while your data stays at home. We show you how to safely access your data over the Internet using a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

We've built and tested our low-, mid- and higher-cost systems at standard and overclocked speeds. Now we're ready to compare their performance, price, and value.

Over the week we build and test low-, mid- and higher-cost systems at standard and overclocked rates. Then we compare them and look at price-performance. Today we compare overclocking capabilities.

We double the budget of yesterday's low-cost PC and build the best possible unit we can for under $2000.