The AMD FX processors have drastically dropped in price since launch, with the flagship product now selling for $170. This is due to the fact that the FX series has a hard time competing with CPU offerings from Intel, namely the Ivy Bridge and even Sandy Bridge generations. The FX processor isn't such a bad choice at the new price point, though. The lower-tier models in the same family are also quite affordable and can make for a fully-featured gaming rig or workstation.

Meanwhile Sapphire has something in store for the enthusiast AMD platform; it's the Pure Black 990FX, a high-end motherboard that can run all AM3 and AM3+ processors. Before everyone gets excited though, it's important to mention that for a good while, the board has only been available in Europe; it's unclear why North American retailers do not stock them.