How to Choose the Right Processor Speed for a Computer

A computer processor, often considered the brains of the machine, has the most significant effect on performance and price. However, processors are now fast enough that other differences are often more important.


Steps:
1. Take the processor's bus speed and L1 and L2 caches into account as well as the clock speed. The instruction bus determines how quickly instructions get from RAM to the processor; if a processor has a slower bus, processing time might be wasted waiting for the next instruction to arrive. The L1 and L2 caches store frequently used instructions so that the computer can get them faster than it could fetch them from RAM. The L1 cache is faster than the L2 cache.

2. Consider a machine with a slower processor, such as an Intel Celeron or an AMD processor, for running just basic applications, such as word processing programs.

3. Consider a computer with a middle-of-the-road processor to retain functionality for two or three years.

4. Look for a machine with a state-of-the-art processor to retain functionality for four to six years.

5. Choose the fastest Pentium III processor you can afford if you'll use demanding multimedia software, either for editing graphics, sounds, or video or for playing graphics-intensive games.

6. Choose a fast G3 or G4 processor for a Macintosh.


Tips:
The processor fetches instructions from RAM, then executes the instructions (such as adding two numbers in memory together). A fast processor makes the most difference when you're doing a lot of calculating or performing other operations on data - such as redrawing a complicated graphic image on the screen at rapid intervals, as in many games.

High-end and low-end chips are rarely a good value. Usually, the best value is the third chip down - as long as it's in the current generation of processors.

Differences in clock speed within a generation or processor line are not as significant as differences between generations.


Warnings:
On consumer-model computers, an inexpensive processor usually means cheap parts and poor build quality.

Tips from eHow Users:
The graphics card matters too by eHow Friend
Don't spend all your budget on
the fastest processor and
neglect other areas. Your RAM
and graphics card must match
the other spec or you won't see
the true capabilities of your
system. Some manufacturers skimp
on the graphics card, so beware.


Balance your system

Your computer is only as fast as the slowest part in it. Just as a slow processor will slow down a super fast video card, a slow video card will slow down a fast processor. Don't spend too much on one area of a computer. If you can afford it, spend money on a computer when building or buying it. I bought parts that were just under the best available for my computer. It has a P4 2.4GH processor in it. My girlfriend just bought a computer from Dell this year (2005), and it has a 2.8GH P4 in it and my computer is still much faster and more stable than hers. I know it is because her video card is not as good as mine is.

RAM is like gold to your computer )if you are doing anything beyond web surfing or word processing). If you are doing more than the web or word processing, you should have at least 512MB (I would recommend 1GB, but most people probably can't afford that). If you are low on RAM, an upgrade is usually cheap, and very easily done. Spend the money (if you can), the computer will last longer. Spread the money out among the different computer parts.

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