So how far can you push that top of the line Intel processor? The folks over at Tom's Hardware Guide have pulled out all the stops to show us just what a Pentium 4 3.06GHz CPU can do. Hold on to your chairs and put that cold-weather gear on! You'll need it.

At the start of this ambitious project, our engineers asked themselves the question: how fast is fast? Or, how fast does a PC fitted with the most powerful hardware have to be in order to show a clean pair of heels to the world's best PC systems? Isn't the nondescript box of tricks on display in your local superstore fast enough already? Well, for most people the answer would be 'yes.'

 

However, nothing can stem the tide of progress, and when a PC is used for work, having a really fast machine is a necessity rather than an option. There are other things to consider, too. We have a never-ending fascination with the creation of ultimate machines offering us ever more power. Also, it is human nature to push physical boundaries to their limits.

 

Here, we give you a taste of what is possible.