Processors ( AMD, Intel)

AMD Processor

AMD processors are an excellent choice. Market conditions and technology fluctuate, but nearly always they provide a better bang-for-the-buck than their Intel counterparts, with no compromise in system quality. I have the AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ AM2 dual-core processor in My Super PC.

Today's PC's use a 64-bit architecture. While 64-bit hardware, meaning the processor and motherboard, are mature and proven components, the full benefit of 64-bit cannot be realized without an operating system that supports it and with applications that use it. The software is still pretty much a 32-bit world, even after the arrival of Windows Vista. A computer that uses the 64-bit version (often designated as x64) of the operating system must use hardware drivers that are 64-bit as well. This is bad because the 64-bit version of the drivers may not come in the retail box and may be difficult to find. They are unlikely to be desirable over their 32-bit counterparts. Applications that are 32-bit should, in theory, work under an x64 operating system, but in practice this is not always so, especially with low level utilities like anti-virus programs. And performance of 32-bit software is not penalized for running under an x64 operating system. For now, the best approach in terms of avoiding problems is to stick with all 32-bit software, including the operating system and drivers. It will all run fine on 64-bit hardware and will receive the benefit of running on the faster hardware. A processor type is identified by its "socket type". There are a number of socket types available made by both AMD and Intel, so it's important to know the best one for building your own computer. Some socket types may be on their way to being discontinued, others may be too new to try, and others may be best suited for purposes other than desktop computers. The AMD processor most popular for a desktop computer is of type "socket AM2". From Intel, the processor type is "socket LGA775". Both processors are designed to be used with DDR2 RAM and require a socket compatible motherboard. Both technologies are well proven. A single processor can have more than one core, the core being the part of the component that does the actual processing. The AMD Athlon 64 X2 processors, which are socket AM2 type processors, have two cores and are called dual core processors. The Intel Core 2 Duo and the Intel Core 2 Quad processors, which are socket LGA775 type processor, come with two cores and four cores, respectively. Singe processor computers that contain one or more cores are the popular choice. Motherboards that support multiple processors, each with perhaps multipe cores, are not used for desktop computers to any real extent. It's worth noting that the days of "Moore's Law" are unfortunately over. This "law" was an observation or prediction made by Gordon Moore of Intel in 1965 that processor speeds would double every 18 months. The prediction held true for nearly 40 years, but if it were still true then 20GHz processors would be commonplace today. In the future, the emphasis will be on concurrency (parallel processing) to achieve performance gains. Multiple processor systems and multi-core processors are steps in this direction, but without software designed to take advantage of it they provide little gain. Yet parallel software design is far more complex than the serial software design of today, so don't expect any drastic changes in the near future. It may be some bittersweet solace that the processor you buy today actually won't become an outdated slowpoke as quickly as its predecessors became.

Socket AM2 - Athlon 64 X2 Processors

There are two models of the socket AM2 Athlon 64 X2 processor, namely Windsor and Brisbane. Windsor is well established and I'm using a Windsor model in My Super PC. Windsor models are dual core processors and come in speeds from 3800+ to 6000+. The newer Brisbane model is primarily a manufacturing change. A Brisbane processor and Windsor processor of the same rated speed, such as 4200+, will perform similarly. The overall functional difference between the two models is small. There is, however, a potential for appreciable difference in price due to the different manufacturing processes. Processors are often available with two different amounts of cache. For example, the Windor models are often available with either 512KB of cache or 1MB of cache. The extra cache gives a bump in performance, a higher price point, of course, but without increasing the core GHz speed. Such is the case with the AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ processor, which runs at 2.2GHz and comes with 512KB of cache, versus the AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ processor, which also runs at 2.2GHz but comes with 1MB of cache. Performance improvement due to cache size diminishes as the cache gets large. At these very large cache sizes, I'd feel better that I was actually buying a performance increase that would be effective across any type of task when the extra dollars brought me a faster GHz. For more information about different types of AMD processors, see this AMD Athlon Processor Comparison Guide.

Socket LGA775 - Intel Core 2 Processors

The socket LGA775 Intel Core 2 processor models are:

Allendale, Core 2 Duo E6300 and Core 2 Duo E6400, dual-core processor

Conroe, Core 2 Duo E6600 and Core 2 Duo E6750, dual-core processor

Kentsfield, Core 2 Quad Q6600, quad-core processor

All of these processor models are proven and highly regarded. For more information about Intel Core 2 processors, see this Intel Core 2 Duo article.

Retail Versus OEM Processors

There is no difference between the retail version of a processor and the OEM version of a processor. The retail version will come with a CPU cooler (a heat sink and fan combination) used to keep the processor from overheating. The CPU cooler that comes in the retail package will do the job just fine, and it's sure to be compatible with the processor in which it is packaged. The processor I have in My Super PC today was purchased in the retail package as pictured above. The OEM version of a processor does not come in a retail box, but comes as just the processor alone, usually wrapped in bubble wrap. I've used OEM processors in a number of computers. Unlike the retail box, an OEM processor does not come with a CPU cooler. Purchasing a CPU cooler separately allows you to have something that cools better and performs more quietly than the CPU cooler that comes in the retail package. Be sure and use one that supports the socket type of the processor. I've written up my CPU cooler experiences at Build A Computer Like My Super PC - CPU Cooler And Case Fans. The OEM version of the processor is often cheaper and may cover the difference in buying the CPU cooler separately. The OEM version is typically warranted for a much shorter period of time, often 30 days. But the consensus opinion is that even only one month is plenty of time to know if the processor is good or not. If it's going to fail then it will fail soon after it is used. In addition, many people tinker around with overclocking the processor. If the processor has to be modified, which is often the case, then that voids the warranty anyway. By the way, overclocking the processor is a whole subject in itself. The short answer on overclocking is "Don't bother", but for the longer answer see Build A Computer Like My Super PC - Overclocking. One danger with buying an OEM processor is that it's not a shrink-wrapped package. So maybe some nefarious someone has already checked out the processor in some way and determined something negative about it - like it doesn't overclock well or doesn't even work! Guys who deal in processors for a living can tell something about it just by looking at all those tiny numbers etched on the top of it. And plenty of those selling OEM processors handle them carelessly, bouncing them around with no protection in a plastic tray like candy in a candy dish, flipping through them with their bare fingers - haven't they heard about ESD (electrostatic discharge) - grounding - wrist straps - "Hello-o". So be sure you want to take extra care to buy your OEM Athlon processor from a trustworthy source like the one I recommend at Build A Computer Like My Super PC - Cost To Build A Computer - Processor. Here is an example of how an OEM processor might be packaged. This is an Athlon 64 3400+ processor I used in a previous version of My Super PC. This packaging is typical.Bubble-wrap around the processor sealed inside it's antistatic bag.

Best Processor Choice

Generally speaking, any of the AMD socket AM2 Athlon 64 X2 processors or the Intel socket LGA775 Intel Core 2 Duo processors make sound choices. The choice largely comes down current market price fluctuations and your budget. Be aware that the processor and motherboard must be of the same socket type, and the CPU cooler must be compatible with the socket type of the processor. Otherwise, for these two groups of processors, all of the other components in the computer are compatible with either one. RAM is a bottle-neck in any computer. For best performance, a computer using a socket AM2 processor or socket LGA775 processor should be configured with low-latency, high-speed RAM, such as the Crucial Ballistix 1024MB PC2-8500 DDR2 RAM.