CPU, CPU Cooler and RAM

With performance as one of our main goals, we selected an AMD 9950 Phenom X4 Black Edition as our CPU. The 9950 sports four cores running at 2.6GHz and 4MB of cache, and plugs into an AM2+ socket. In previous tests, the 9950 has proven to be a great performer that is very economical with a street price of around $230. The 9950 features an unlocked multiplier, which makes it a candidate for overclocking, while Advanced Micro Devices' Cool'n'Quiet Technology automatically controls the speed and voltage of each core to reduce energy use and heat. To keep the CPU cool (and to reduce system noise), an Asus Triton 85 CPU cooler fit the bill. With a street price of about $55, the Triton 85 proves to much less expensive than fancy liquid cooling systems, yet still dissipates enough heat to work well in overclocking situations. The unit features a 120-millimeter fan, which is virtually silent. The packaging includes thermal grease, along with all needed mounting hardware for mainstream AMD and Intel CPUs. We all know that heat is the No. 1 enemy of electronics, so anything that can be done to keep components cool is a big plus. We applied that same logic when it came to selecting RAM and played it safe by selecting Corsair Dominator DDR2 modules. The Dominator series incorporates extruded aluminum heat sinks, which are excellent at dissipating heat and allow the chips to function at 1066MHz with no problems. We used two 2GB modules, with a street price of around $300. Of course, system builders can shave a few bucks off the cost of the system by selecting a lower-speed CPU, different RAM and a more pedestrian CPU cooler.