Scan's TekSpek

CPU and graphics processor company AMD released the world's fastest single-GPU graphics card just before Christmas 2011. Known as the Radeon HD 7970 3GB and approximately 20 per cent quicker than NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 580, the new card is based on a brand-new architecture that's called Graphics Core Next (GCN).

AMD has today announced the world's fastest single-GPU graphics card. Known as the Radeon HD 7970 and due to be made available through the company's roster of board partners from January 9, 2012 onwards.

Despite an influx of high-profile game launches in recent months, the PC hardware scene has remained surprisingly quiet - at least as far as graphics are concerned.

It's now three years since Intel released the Core i7 processor and associated X58 chipset, making up the LGA1366 platform. Then ushering in a new era for high-performance PCs and with numbers still to be bettered by AMD's rival Bulldozer chip, Intel's has the high-end desktop market sewn up for a while.

AMD has lifted the wraps off a new CPU architecture formerly known by the codename Bulldozer. Now released as the FX series, this TekSpek delves into the technology behind the new chip.