AMD APU technology integrates a fully programmable, DirectX 11-capable graphics processor onto a powerful dual or quad core CPU chip, which provides great performance for games as well as photo and video editing

If you crave the highest-resolutions so you can see every gory detail in your first-person shooter, a single graphics card may not be enough.

Microsoft DirectX 11 and DirectCompute enable new levels of realism and performance to games and other applications.

Creative Assembly's Total War series features strategy games depicting large scale warfare during a number of historical periods.

Should you buy or build your new PC? If you''re at all comfortable with a screwdriver, it can be a tough call.

It's no longer a text-based, 2D world inside your PC. New, graphics-heavy applications like Google Earth and photo editing applications are increasingly prevalent.

If you use a computer at work (and who doesn't?) you might think your system's built-in graphics are good enough for your needs.

Whether it's TV shows on Hulu or the Battlestar Galactica massively multiplayer online game in a browser …

A new genre of video game that goes beyond entertainment has emerged in the past decade: serious games. The latest versions provide greater immersion and realistic experiences thanks to GPU-acceleration.

Most electronics stores stock a staggering array of different graphics cards at prices ranging from $50 to more than $400. Deciding which one to buy, and how to buy it, can be daunting.

No one uses just one application. Gamers might occasionally make use of a spreadsheet or slideshow, photo editors browse the web, and home office users have been known to boot up the occasional game.

Every day there are more choices for watching video on your computer: online with Hulu or YouTube or on disks like DVDs or Blu-ray.

Twenty-four hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute. Whether it's a cat taking a shower, a make-up tutorial, or the next Beyoncé singing her heart out, home video is incredibly popular.

Wherever you turn, people are snapping pictures. Whether they're using cell phones or the latest professional SLR cameras, everyone is capturing memories with their digital cameras.

You can't wait to show friends and family that video of the goal that clinched your daughter's win for her soccer team last weekend. So you fire up an application to transfer the video to your smart phone.

Humans evolved with two eyes set a couple inches apart, giving us the ability to perceive depth. Early humans used this ability to discern the "z" axis — a third dimension in addition to two that define a flat plane — to become skilled hunters.

The more you can see, the more you know about what's going on around you. In a car, seeing in every direction is essential for safety, plus it can make driving a pleasure.

Should you buy or build your new PC? If you''re at all comfortable with a screwdriver, it can be a tough call.

Reading PC specs may seem like a foreign language at times. In this article, we will attempt to demystify the specifications and put some context around them so you know what you really need for a responsive PC.

In the past several years, the CPU inside your PC has undergone a dramatic transformation. Moore's Law — the notion that the number of transistors that can be built onto a semiconductor chip roughly doubles every two years — has made that possible.

Multicore PC processors offer excellent responsiveness. That's partly because multiple cores are better than one, but it's also because your CPU can efficiently distribute tasks among the cores.

Today's PC games are more highly visual than ever. Even strategy games, once mired in the world of flat, 2D maps, have added graphics eye candy like the real-time cloud animations in "Civilization V".

When you're getting ready to shop for a new PC, it's important to consider your specific needs before pulling out your credit card.

Historically, high-end home theater PCs, or HTPCs, have been expensive, while their more affordable counterparts offered limited performance.

The era of the single, shared PC in the family room is long gone.

Anyone who works in an office needs the right combination of responsive hardware to do their job efficiently.

Imagine a PC that looks at home in your family entertainment center. It resembles the other devices on the shelf, like a DVD player or a receiver. It's quiet and offers moderate power consumption.

A quick and responsive PC has two main requirements: a multicore processor and an operating system that can efficiently take advantage of multiple cores. Any PC built with AMD Athlon and AMD Phenom multicore CPUs with Windows 7 fits that bill.

AMD APU technology integrates a fully programmable, DirectX 11-capable graphics processor onto a powerful dual or quad core CPU chip, which provides great performance for games as well as photo and video editing.

The era of the single, shared PC in the family room is long gone. Modern families need more than one computer if a household has any hope of remaining peaceful.

Historically, high-end home theater PCs, or HTPCs, have been expensive, while their more affordable counterparts offered limited performance.

Microsoft DirectX 11 and DirectCompute enable new levels of realism and performance to games and other applications.

Reading PC specs may seem like a foreign language at times.

You might assume that an administrative assistant or office manager doesn't need a powerful graphics card or CPU in his or her computer.

When you're getting ready to shop for a new PC, it's important to consider your specific needs before pulling out your credit card.