The Basics of PC Shopping - Processors

This blog is intended for anyone looking to make a smart purchase in the computer world some time soon.

There are five basic things to look out for when buying a computer. A processor, RAM, HD space, warranty and type. Today, we'll talk about the processor.

=== Processor ===

The two main processor manufacturers are Intel and AMD. Intel seems to have more appeal simply because they're the most advertised. In the end, Intel and AMD both put out very powerful chip. So, if you see Intel or AMD, you can be satisfied knowing you have a good brand. Unfortunately, brand isn't everything.

You will want to make sure the computer you're buying has either two or more cores. For Intel, this is called "Core 2 Duo". For AMD, it's typically called either "x2" or "dual core". The processor is like the brain of a computer, and having more is always better.

For processing speed, you'll want 2.0GHz or higher for a desktop. For a laptop, 1.5GHz is reasonable. It is worth nothing that a "Core 2 Duo" that runs at 2.0 GHz could actually run at 4.0 GHz.

Well, that's about it for the basics of a processor! Of course there is much more to learn, but for simple shopping having this knowledge could get you a better deal! There's nothing worse than buying a computer and having it give you performance issues within the first few months.

I hope you've found this blog helpful. Feel free to subscribe or add me to your RSS reader!

Thanks for reading,
- Nick