Processor/CPU
CPU - should I get an AMD or Intel processor?
My personal preference is for Intel CPUs (Central Processing Units), because my feeling is that Intel CPUs have a greater tolerance of heat making them more reliable. That said AMD CPUs are great value for money and perform well. In particular they are great for gaming PCs, where performance is more important than reliability.
Processor clock speed is important, but the number of cores is also a big factor. For example a 2.4GHz dual core will usually perform better overall than a 3.0 GHz single core CPU.
Most CPUs have either single core (one), dual core (two) or quad core (four). We recommend at least a dual core CPU or better. For most users the hard drive speed of a PC has a greater impact on overall speed of the PC, so generally we recommend spending money on a faster hard drive before spending money on a faster CPU.
My personal preference is for Intel CPUs (Central Processing Units), because my feeling is that Intel CPUs have a greater tolerance of heat making them more reliable. That said AMD CPUs are great value for money and perform well. In particular they are great for gaming PCs, where performance is more important than reliability.
Processor clock speed is important, but the number of cores is also a big factor. For example a 2.4GHz dual core will usually perform better overall than a 3.0 GHz single core CPU.
Most CPUs have either single core (one), dual core (two) or quad core (four). We recommend at least a dual core CPU or better. For most users the hard drive speed of a PC has a greater impact on overall speed of the PC, so generally we recommend spending money on a faster hard drive before spending money on a faster CPU.