The AMD FX-9590 ($229.99) takes AMD's consumer CPUs to a new level of performance, with an overclockable eight-core design and a recently lowered price that makes for an attractive buy for the performance-minded. It comes with a couple of caveats, however, since that high-performance capability is pretty power hungry and demands some pretty serious cooling equipment.

The FX-9590 is an eight-core processor, boasting one of the highest clock speeds available on a consumer-focused processor, with 4.7GHz to 5GHZ speeds even without overclocking. The CPU has some pretty serious power demands, so you'll want to make sure you pair it with a motherboard that offers both an AM3+ socket and can handle the chip's 220-watt power requirement.

Additionally, this CPU demands a fairly robust liquid processing system to realize its full performance capabilities. When first tested while using a self-contained water cooling system with a 120mm cooling fan, it still wasn't enough to prevent performance issues due to heat. Only after switching to a larger 240mm, dual-fan radiator did the CPU show expected performance numbers. When considering the FX-9590, be sure to take into account the possible expense of a new cooling system, since this processor requires it.

Those more familiar with AMD's combination CPU/GPU chips (AMD calls it an Advanced Processing Unit or APU) may not realize that the FX-9590 does not include graphics processing on the chip, so you'll need to provide a dedicated GPU even if you aren't planning on using the system for gaming.

Despite all of these extra considerations—motherboard, cooling equipment, and a separate graphics card—many builders will find the AMD FX-9590 to be a capable processor that offers potent performance. If you have the hardware to tame this beast, it offers a fantastic amount of power for a very affordable price.

For more details, check out the AMD FX-9590 review on our sister site, Computer Shopper.