The Channel Wire

November 13, 2007

Intel launched its new Penryn-class chips Monday, including the Core 2 Extreme QX9650 quad-core processor for high-performance desktops. AMD's getting set to release its first quad-core desktop CPUs, the Phenom line, along with the enthusiast platform codenamed Spider ... the first AMD product built from the ground-up with ATI since the chipmaker acquired the graphics company last year.

Needless to say, hard-core gamers are on the edge of their seats, counting the days until they get their Penryn or Spider systems up and running, no doubt stocking up on Hot Pockets and Mountain Dew Code Red for the marathon Halo sessions to come.

A lucky few have their hands on the gear already. Here's Cevat Yerli, president and CEO of game developer Crytek, rocking the latest version of Crysis on a Penryn system just a few months ago:

And here's AMD VP of Advanced Marketing Patrick Moorhead evangelizing Spider and its "tera-tera-teraflops of performance":

Finally, here's what it's like to drive the real Penryn and the shocking truth about overclocked Spiders: