Intel Core
2 Extreme
QX9650
Intel’s been on cruise
control for more than
a year, but that doesn’t
mean the giant has
been asleep at the
wheel. On the heels of
its proven 65nm Core
2 Quad design, Intel
gets tiny with a new
45nm process chock-
full of under-the-hood
enhancements that
boost performance 10
to 15 percent over its
predecessor in a clock-
for-clock comparison.
But the real story of the
45nm Penryn chip is its
clock-speed headroom.
While the 65nm quad
cores top out at 3GHz
(with overclocked chips
pushing 3.73GHz), the
QX9650 promises to
push clock speeds far
higher thanks to the
more effi cient 45nm
process. The only down-
side to Penryn is that
it won’t work in some
older motherboards.
Nevertheless, this is the
best CPU in town.
(See page 54) $1,000,
http://www.intel.comThe fact that we’ve adopted the
CNPS9700 as a benchmark against
which we compare all other cool-
ers is a testament to the raw
strength of this shiny little guy. It’s
just that powerful; it’s loud too, but
if you want your CPU temps low-
ered to the extreme, the CNPS9700
is the cooler to do it.
(Reviewed February 2007) $80,
http://www.zalmanusa.comCooler Master Cosmos
We’ve read the pages upon pages of forum posts complain-
ing about the Cosmos: that it’s too bulky, that it’s too warm,
that it sucks. Well, you disbelievers are wrong! We’ve found
nothing but blissful joy when using this holiest of holy chas-
sis. Its adherence to screwless construction and sound-
proofi ng, not to mention its front-panel eSATA support and
durable exterior, made the Cosmos the natural choice for
this year’s Dream Machine, and it remains our favorite to this
day. To praise this case more would require ticker tape and
a fl ashy car.
(Reviewed October 2007) $200, http://www.coolermaster.comZalman CNPS9700 LED
BEST CASE48 MAXIMUMPC DECEMBER 2007
Intel Core
2 Extreme
BEST MOTHERBOARDBEST CPUAsus P5E3 Deluxe
If you don’t like controversy, stop read-
ing. After taking Asus’s new P5E3 ing. After taking Asus’s new P5E3
Deluxe motherboard and its new Intel Deluxe motherboard and its new Intel
X38 chipset for a ride, we’re willing to X38 chipset for a ride, we’re willing to
toss aside conventional power-user toss aside conventional power-user
wisdom and embrace this DDR3 non-wisdom and embrace this DDR3 non-
SLI board as our top pick. SLI board as our top pick. Wha, wha,
what?!what?!what?! Just hear us out: First, the board Just hear us out: First, the board Just hear us out: First, the board Just hear us out: First, the board
supports Intel’s new 45nm Penryn—our supports Intel’s new 45nm Penryn—our supports Intel’s new 45nm Penryn—our
favored CPU. Second, DDR3 is beginning favored CPU. Second, DDR3 is beginning favored CPU. Second, DDR3 is beginning
to hit speeds that make it attractive—at to hit speeds that make it attractive—at
1,800MHz, who gives a damn about 1,800MHz, who gives a damn about
latency? We’re also willing to forgo SLI support—for now—when single-card latency? We’re also willing to forgo SLI support—for now—when single-card latency? We’re also willing to forgo SLI support—for now—when single-card
performance is so damned fast. (In the meantime, maybe Nvidia will fi nally performance is so damned fast. (In the meantime, maybe Nvidia will fi nally performance is so damned fast. (In the meantime, maybe Nvidia will fi nally
unlock SLI on Intel chipsets.) The hardcore features and killer performance unlock SLI on Intel chipsets.) The hardcore features and killer performance unlock SLI on Intel chipsets.) The hardcore features and killer performance
of this board make it worth the trade-off.of this board make it worth the trade-off.
(Reviewed at http://tinyurl.com/2cvl4b) $280, http://www.asus.com(Reviewed at http://tinyurl.com/2cvl4b) $280, http://www.asus.comBEST
OF THE
BEST
2007’s
’s
BEST AIR COOLER