With the official launch of Intel's next-generation, Nehalem-based Core i7 consumer processor being so close that you can almost feel it breathing down our neck, so to speak, one can’t but wonder how fast the new desktop computer systems are going to become, especially since notebooks sales have been reported to top those of desktop systems, for the first time in history. However, the sheer performance potential of the upcoming Core i7 processors could just turn things back to normal, allowing users to turn their attention to the new Core i7-powered desktop PCs, which should be launched after official word from the leading CPU maker Intel is out.

 

As it is custom with the most anticipated hardware products, reviews of the yet-to-become official desktop systems featuring Intel Core i7 processors have already emerged, and there's even a claim of the "world's fastest PC of all time." So, basically, this is what all those gaming users and technology enthusiasts out there have been waiting for, more brute power from their personal computers.

 

The guys over at SlashGear got their hands on a Gateway FX6800-01e desktop PC, which boasts an Intel Core i7-920 processor and a Radeon HD 4850. While the system itself is impressive thanks to its hardware specifications, it isn't the most high-end incarnation of the next-generation Core i7 processors.

However, the Fi7epower MLK1610 from a company called YoYoTech is now touted as the world's fastest desktop PC ever, at least by the fellows over at TechRadar, who have been lucky enough to get their hands on one, before the official release. That is probably because this system combines the power of an overclocked Core i7 965 processor with a 2GB HD 4870 X2 from HIS.

 

There's obviously a premium price tag attached to such an impressive lineup of specifications so, if it has in anyway led you to consider buying one for yourself when launched, then you should take into account that this system is expected to cost somewhere around £3,995.00. The Gateway FX6800 might be a bit more affordable, but it is said to provide users with a similar performance level to that of some of the current Core 2 Duo desktops .

 

We are bound to hear about new systems designed to take advantage of the latest Core i7-supporting platform in the upcoming days and weeks. Major systems vendors such as Dell, HP and Apple are also likely to upgrade their high-end offerings to the latest platform from the Santa Clara-based chip maker. In addition, thanks to the technical specifications of the X58 chipset, users can benefit from either a CrossFireX or a SLI configuration, so there's more room for upgrading. The rise of high-end desktops could also benefit AMD, or more specifically AMD's graphics business, as its current graphics cards lineup is considered the most successful the company has had so far.

 

Still, the success of Core i7 desktops is pretty much debatable, mainly due to their higher price tag, in a market that is certainly dealing with the effects of the worldwide slow economy. While being capable of delivering a much improved computer performance, the tendency for such systems is to be more pricey as compared with their Core 2 Duo counterparts.