The best all around performers from each companies.
AMD
The Phenom II x4 965 is the best they have at the moment but will soon have a Phenom II x6 out
Intel
The best performers would be the I5 750 all around great mid level processor. On Intel's high end you have a few choices but the most popular is the I7 920 & 930 these are Intel's Thoroughbreds. On Intel's ridiculously over priced sector of high end the I7 975 extreme edition And new this month is the I7 980x which is a six core hyper threaded monster.
But this year we will see a lot of new technology coming out just like any other year.