Which computer processor should I buy?

Q Having read your recent article on graphics cards, I have a similar question about choosing a processor. I am confused by terms such as dual-core and quad-core. What should I choose?
David Bickell

A As the heart of a computer, the choice of processor affects everything else in the computer. The first choice is between processors made by Intel or AMD.

There’s no clear winner, although AMD-based computers have often been a cheaper option.
The dual- and quad-core processors that you mention refer to a clever idea of bolting two or four processors together onto one chip. Using more than one processor at a time is nothing new but it was previously the preserve of the most expensive computers. Putting them together on the same chip has made this performance increase available to ordinary users. It is also why the old method of ranking processors is a little more complicated now.

Previously you could compare processors by the number of calculations they could perform every second. A 2GHz processor can make two billion a second.

Dual-core processors often look slower but don’t forget that there are two of them. Sadly you can’t just double the clock speed, but a 2.2GHz dual-core processor will generally outperform a 3GHz single-core processor.

Quad-core processors only really hold an advantage if you are using software designed to take advantage of them, unless you want the bragging rights of course. Our advice is to set a budget before browsing for a new computer and not concentrate too much on any one part at the expense of others. A fast processor will not offer good performance if it does not have enough memory, for example.

There is one kind of processor to look out for, especially when buying very cheap computers. Intel’s Atom processor has been specifically designed to give the best possible battery life but this is at the expense of some performance.

These processors are normally found in netbooks but have appeared in some des ktops as well. They are fine for general Word and Excel tasks but don’t expect to do any video editing.

Click here to find out more about computer processors.