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Cheap processor guide - choose the best CPU
There is not really that big a difference between processors as you might think. The two main manufacturers of computer processors are Intel and AMD. They each have their different models, but when compared to one another, there is no clear winner. Before we head on, I would like to introduce you to processor memory: The L1 (Level 1) and L2 (Level 2) cache are memory caches, which are built into the processor. Memory built into the processor is always dedicated to the processor itself, and cannot be shared with other parts of the computer. Again, more memory is better; your processor will work faster if it has more dedicated memory.
Let us take a closer look at the different models:
Intel processors
Intel Celeron and Celeron D
The Celeron processor is the discount version of the well-performing Pentium 4, and has just recently been upgraded. This means that there now are two models of the Celeron processor: the first was named Celeron, and some time ago, Intel came up with a revised model of this processor, the Celeron D. The Celeron processor has 8 KB level 1 (L1) cache memory and 128 KB level 2 (L2) cache memory, as opposed to Celeron D's 16 KB L1 cache and 256 KB L2 cache. It has a smaller built-in memory than the AMD CPU's. To reduce the price of the Celeron processors, Intel have chosen to equip these processors with less cache than the Pentium processors.
Intel Pentium 4
The Pentium 4 processor has been a huge success to Intel, and rightly so. It is a good processor with lots of computing power. It is has proved to be very reliable, even when overclocked. One of the things that I like about the Pentium 4 processor is that it supports a higher Front Side Bus than any AMD processor. The Front Side Bus (FSB) value is indicative of how fast the processor and motherboard can transmit information. The various models of the Pentium 4 processor have either 8 or 16 KB of Level 1 cache and from 512 to a whopping 2048 KB (2 MB) Level 2 cache. Did I mention that the Pentium 4 processor with 2048 KB Level 2 cache, the so-called Extreme Edition, is pretty expensive? One of the most extreme things about the Extreme Edition series is that you should expect to pay at least twice the price of a regular Pentium 4 processor - but you will not get twice the processing speed. Buyer beware.
Intel Itanium and Xeon processor
The Intel Itanium processor and the Intel Xeon processor are not aimed at the desktop PC market. Instead, the market for the Itanium and Xeon processor has been servers, and I would estimate that 99% of all Itanium and Xeon processors are installed in servers. For your cheap computer system, go for the Celeron D, Pentium 4, AMD Sempron or AMD Athlon processors.
AMD processors
AMD Duron
AMD Athlon
AMD Sempron
AMD Opteron
If a processor is marked "boxed", it means that you also get a compatible fan and radiator with the processor at no extra charge. If it is not marked "boxed" or is marked "OEM" or "Tray", you should expect to buy a processor cooler yourself.
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