Power-based transcranial duplex sonography (p-TDS) is a new promising ultrasound technique that generates intravascular color signals from the amplitude of the echo signal. The present investigation was undertaken to determine the advantages and limitations of power Doppler in the assessment of the basal cerebral circulation compared with transcranial color-coded real-time sonography (TCCS) and contrast-enhanced transcranial color-coded real-time sonography (CE-TCCS). Thirty-eight patients without cerebrovascular diseases were examined with p-TDS and TCCS, and in 11 patients CE-TCCS studies were performed. The M1 segment could be identified in 100% by both ultrasound techniques. p-TDS visualized M2 (67/70 vs 46/70, p < 0.0001), A2 (63/70 vs 46/70, p < 0.001), and P2 (67/70 vs 44/70, p < 0.0001) segments significantly more frequently and accurately compared to TCCS. The posterior communicating artery (25/70) and P3 segments (32/70) were only detectable by p-TDS and not by conventional TCCS. In comparison with CE-TCCS, p-TDS had no important advantages in the detection of intracranial vessels. In conclusion, p-TDS and CE-TCCS were superior to TCCS with regard to identification of the basal arterial circulation. Both methods permit noninvasive and reliable identification of the basal cerebral circulation.