A Guide To Today's Processors
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A Guide to Today's Processors
Computer technology is changing so rapidly, that in many cases, the computer you purchased six months ago is quite "old" today. In an industry that moves at blazing speeds, we like to release processor updates from time to time. This article is geared mainly towards those who are not computer gurus and don't follow the industry everyday. If you are looking to upgrade in the near future and do not know what processors are available to you, this article will be of assistance. You'll read about the current processors on the market, what their specifications are, how they perform, pros / cons, prices, speeds, and all other kinds of technical and practical data. This guide is divided into three sections so that each processor can be effectively covered: desktop chips, server chips, and laptop chips. We will not be comparing one processor to another, as there are obviously infinite details to which processor is best at what. Each processor serves a purpose, and that purpose will be pointed out. Another thing we will not go into is which benchmarks what because, quite frankly, benchmark tools vary on everything, not just the processor. Also, all prices are subject to change, and probably will change week to week. When we mention "average price", this represents the most likely range you will see. The true price range of a particular chip is somewhat larger, due to top of the line and bottom of the line outliers. We do supplement the discussions with a mention the full price range of the processor in the "cons" section of each. Here are some common definitions of terms used to describe the processors in this article so you can be familiar with them when they come up. 64 bit vs. 32 bit: Most processors and software currently on the market use a 32 bit instruction set. This means that the processor can handle up to 32 bits of information per cycle. A newer 64 bit technology is emerging fast, and has promise for the future. Essentially, 64 bit processors can handle twice as much data at a time than 32 bit processors can. GHz: Number of cycles per second measured in billions. MHz: Number of cycles per second measured in millions. Front Side Bus (FSB): This is the speed at which the processor communicates with the memory on the motherboard. The faster the FSB, the better your performance will be. Memory Cache: A very fast static RAM that stores frequently accessed data. This type of memory is generally stored on the processor, so it is very easy and quick to get to. It saves a lot of time compared to accessing data on the much slower dynamic RAM on the motherboard.
Desktop Processors First off is the desktop market. These processors are best for general home users who want a reliable system. The high end ones are suitable for gamers and graphic artists, but all are made for home users and workstations. High End Chips Processor: Intel Pentium 4 - Prescott Core Release Date: Early 2004 Speed Range: 2.4 GHz (533 MHz FSB) to 3.8 GHz (800 MHz FSB) Price Average: $200 - $300
Pros The new Prescott chips are quite promising, offering speeds up to 3.8 GHz, a bumped up Level Two cache (1MB) and the new 90 nanometer architecture. Starting with the 560J model, Intel made the Prescott the first chip with an XD (execute disable) bit, for a workstation computer. It provides advanced security technology for both your computer and your network (for more information, view Intel's official information page). All the Prescott chips include Hyper-Threading technology, something relatively new to the desktop market, which allows the operating system to actually see two processors and do tasks faster. These chips are excellent for gamers, high end users, or someone who likes a lot of power. Cons The Prescotts are still somewhat in the "experimental" category, the older ones had some heat and stability issues. The performance edge over a comparable Northwood Core is marginal, but the Northwood core is more proven. The prices range greatly, from $135 - $795, depending on the socket type, speed, and features you wish to get Processor: AMD Athlon 64 - Newcastle / Clawhammer Core Release Date: Late 2003 Speed Range: 1.8 GHz - 2.6 GHz (FSB Integrated on Chip) Price Average: $150 - $250 Pros The Athlon 64 boasts as the first affordable desktop chip with 64 bit instructions. An excellent chip for the price, the 64 provides speed, stability, and the future promise of running 64 bit applications. It is meant for gamers and video editors, but is plausible for a home user or a workstation because of its price. It also offers a nice Level 2 cache of 1 MB in the FX class chips. Cons A vast majority of current software on the market will not utilize the 64 bit capabilities of this chip. The only desktop OS to support 64 bit processors is Linux, and even most software for it is written for a 32 bit processor. While it may provide a promising future and start developers thinking in terms of 64 bit, by the time it is mainstream in the software world, there will be newer, better processors out there. Prices of the Athlon 64s also vary greatly depending on features and speed, anywhere from $128 - $965. Processor: Intel Pentium 4 - Extreme Edition - Northwood Core Release Date: Early 2004 Speed Range: 3.2 GHz - 3.4 GHz (800 MHz FSB) Price Range: $899 - $999 Pros The Extreme Edition is the processor of any gamer's dreams. A Level 3 cache of 2 MB makes this chip great for games and heavy loads. Basically, has all the same pros and cons of the regular Northwood, but has some performance tweaks here and there to push every ounce of power out of it. Designed and targeted specifically at gamers and high performance users. Cons Most of the cons for the Northwood are also true for this chip, except for it tends to run a bit hotter.
Mid-Range Processor: Intel Pentium 4 - Northwood Core Release Date: Mid 2002 Speed Range: 2.0 GHz (400 MHz FSB) - 3.2 GHz (800 MHz FSB) Price Range: $128 - $219 Pros These chips are good for your money, provide good stability, and are able to handle most games on the market
with no problem. Something that needs clarified though is the rating system: "A" class means the chip has a 400 MHz FSB, "B" class means 533 MHz FSB, and "C" class means 800 MHz FSB. Once you get that down, its pretty easy to shop for a Northwood. The C class Northwoods come with Hyper-Threading technology to speed up some applications. The Northwood is good for mid-range to high end users, workstations, and most gamers. They also have a standard Level 2 cache of 512K. Cons There are very few cons to buying a Pentium 4 Northwood. They are stable, proven, and have a reasonable price. Just beware; if you buy a pre-built system, most manufactures will not tell you which class of chip they are selling you. You need to pay careful attention to the FSB on them, because a "great deal" on a Pentium 4 may not be such a great deal if it has a low FSB (meaning it doesn't use all the features of the C class). Processor: AMD Athlon XP - Barton Core Release Date: Early 2003 Speed Range: 1.8 GHz (333 MHz FSB) - 2.2 GHz (400 MHz FSB) Price Range: $82 - $199 Pros Another chip that is good for mid-range through most high-end users, the Barton is stable, efficient and can handle most games without a problem. They have a standard Level 2 cache of 512K. It can handle mild multitasking without a problem. Cons Again, like the Northwood, there are not many cons to buying a Barton chip. They are the most proven of the newer cores and can still handle new games effectively. Entry Level / Budget Chips Processor: AMD Sempron Release Date: Mid 2004 Speed Range: 1.5 GHZ - 2.0 GHz (333 MHz FSB) Price Range: $61 - $128 Pros This is a very effective budget processor for users who do not intend to use their computers for much more than word processing, internet / email, and Instant Messaging. It is also stable and effective when not much is running. Cons Its FSB is very low compared to standard, at 333 MHz, and its Level 2 cache is lower than normal also, at 256K. It will not handle much multi-tasking or anything that uses heavy loads. It is meant for a very basic, entry user. Processor: Intel Celeron D Release Date: Mid 2004 Speed Range: 2.26 GHz - 2.93 GHz (533 MHz FSB) Price Range: $68 - $124 Pros The Celeron D's are an awesome buy. Based on the Prescott core, these chips have great speed for a great price. They can handle some multi-tasking, but not a whole lot. They are great for budget users because they offer decent speed at a decent price. Cons The Celeron D's have a low Level 2 cache of 256K and a mid range FSB of 533 MHz. Other than that, they are a great buy.
Server Processors Second are the server processors. These processors are best for all different types of servers, including file servers, application servers, and web servers. There are only two recent processors out there in this category, one from AMD and one from Intel. Processor: Intel Xeon Release Date: Early 2002 Speed Range: 2.4 GHz (533 MHz FSB) - 3.6 (800 MHz FSB) Price Average: $250 - $400 Pros The newer Xeons come with 1MB of Level 2 cache, and some versions even come with 1MB of Level 3 cache. These chips are very stable and can handle lots of load for extended periods of time. Some include 64 bit instructions, while some do not. It is a very impressive chip overall. Cons There is a lot of variance in features on these chips and it gets somewhat confusing. The more you pay the better of all around chip you get, feature wise. Prices range from $229 - $875 depending on speed and features. Processor: AMD Opteron Release Date: Mid 2003 Speed Range: 1.4 GHz - 2.4 GHz (FSB Integrated into chip) Price Average: $250 - $400 Pros All of the Opteron chips have a Level 2 cache of 1MB and have a 64 bit instruction set. They have great stability and can handle very heavy loads. Cons The Opteron prices vary greatly depending on features, anywhere from $158 - $865.
Laptop Processors Last, I will be going over most of the laptop processors on the market. Since the mobile chips are essentially the same as their desktop counterparts, I will only go into one chip that is completely made for laptops - Intel's Centrino Technology. All the mobile chips are basically the same as their desktop counterparts, except they tend to use less voltage that helps extend battery life. Processor: Intel Centrino Mobile Technology Intel has tried to extend the capabilities of laptops by building a system with custom hardware that allows for optimum battery life and has built in wireless network capability. The technology has really caught on in the last year, passing skeptical critic's expectations. For more information on Centrino Technology, check out Intel's official site for it.
Conclusion Well, I think I have covered all the current processors on the market, and hope I have provided you with some helpful tips so when you are ready to buy, you will know what to look for. Please understand that technology changes on a daily basis, and all information in this article was valid at the time it was published. Hopefully, you have learned something about processors while reading through it!
Computer technology is changing so rapidly, that in many cases, the computer you purchased six months ago is quite "old" today. In an industry that moves at blazing speeds, we like to release processor updates from time to time. This article is geared mainly towards those who are not computer gurus and don't follow the industry everyday. If you are looking to upgrade in the near future and do not know what processors are available to you, this article will be of assistance. You'll read about the current processors on the market, what their specifications are, how they perform, pros / cons, prices, speeds, and all other kinds of technical and practical data. This guide is divided into three sections so that each processor can be effectively covered: desktop chips, server chips, and laptop chips. We will not be comparing one processor to another, as there are obviously infinite details to which processor is best at what. Each processor serves a purpose, and that purpose will be pointed out. Another thing we will not go into is which benchmarks what because, quite frankly, benchmark tools vary on everything, not just the processor. Also, all prices are subject to change, and probably will change week to week. When we mention "average price", this represents the most likely range you will see. The true price range of a particular chip is somewhat larger, due to top of the line and bottom of the line outliers. We do supplement the discussions with a mention the full price range of the processor in the "cons" section of each. Here are some common definitions of terms used to describe the processors in this article so you can be familiar with them when they come up. 64 bit vs. 32 bit: Most processors and software currently on the market use a 32 bit instruction set. This means that the processor can handle up to 32 bits of information per cycle. A newer 64 bit technology is emerging fast, and has promise for the future. Essentially, 64 bit processors can handle twice as much data at a time than 32 bit processors can. GHz: Number of cycles per second measured in billions. MHz: Number of cycles per second measured in millions. Front Side Bus (FSB): This is the speed at which the processor communicates with the memory on the motherboard. The faster the FSB, the better your performance will be. Memory Cache: A very fast static RAM that stores frequently accessed data. This type of memory is generally stored on the processor, so it is very easy and quick to get to. It saves a lot of time compared to accessing data on the much slower dynamic RAM on the motherboard.
Desktop Processors First off is the desktop market. These processors are best for general home users who want a reliable system. The high end ones are suitable for gamers and graphic artists, but all are made for home users and workstations. High End Chips Processor: Intel Pentium 4 - Prescott Core Release Date: Early 2004 Speed Range: 2.4 GHz (533 MHz FSB) to 3.8 GHz (800 MHz FSB) Price Average: $200 - $300
Pros The new Prescott chips are quite promising, offering speeds up to 3.8 GHz, a bumped up Level Two cache (1MB) and the new 90 nanometer architecture. Starting with the 560J model, Intel made the Prescott the first chip with an XD (execute disable) bit, for a workstation computer. It provides advanced security technology for both your computer and your network (for more information, view Intel's official information page). All the Prescott chips include Hyper-Threading technology, something relatively new to the desktop market, which allows the operating system to actually see two processors and do tasks faster. These chips are excellent for gamers, high end users, or someone who likes a lot of power. Cons The Prescotts are still somewhat in the "experimental" category, the older ones had some heat and stability issues. The performance edge over a comparable Northwood Core is marginal, but the Northwood core is more proven. The prices range greatly, from $135 - $795, depending on the socket type, speed, and features you wish to get Processor: AMD Athlon 64 - Newcastle / Clawhammer Core Release Date: Late 2003 Speed Range: 1.8 GHz - 2.6 GHz (FSB Integrated on Chip) Price Average: $150 - $250 Pros The Athlon 64 boasts as the first affordable desktop chip with 64 bit instructions. An excellent chip for the price, the 64 provides speed, stability, and the future promise of running 64 bit applications. It is meant for gamers and video editors, but is plausible for a home user or a workstation because of its price. It also offers a nice Level 2 cache of 1 MB in the FX class chips. Cons A vast majority of current software on the market will not utilize the 64 bit capabilities of this chip. The only desktop OS to support 64 bit processors is Linux, and even most software for it is written for a 32 bit processor. While it may provide a promising future and start developers thinking in terms of 64 bit, by the time it is mainstream in the software world, there will be newer, better processors out there. Prices of the Athlon 64s also vary greatly depending on features and speed, anywhere from $128 - $965. Processor: Intel Pentium 4 - Extreme Edition - Northwood Core Release Date: Early 2004 Speed Range: 3.2 GHz - 3.4 GHz (800 MHz FSB) Price Range: $899 - $999 Pros The Extreme Edition is the processor of any gamer's dreams. A Level 3 cache of 2 MB makes this chip great for games and heavy loads. Basically, has all the same pros and cons of the regular Northwood, but has some performance tweaks here and there to push every ounce of power out of it. Designed and targeted specifically at gamers and high performance users. Cons Most of the cons for the Northwood are also true for this chip, except for it tends to run a bit hotter.
Mid-Range Processor: Intel Pentium 4 - Northwood Core Release Date: Mid 2002 Speed Range: 2.0 GHz (400 MHz FSB) - 3.2 GHz (800 MHz FSB) Price Range: $128 - $219 Pros These chips are good for your money, provide good stability, and are able to handle most games on the market
with no problem. Something that needs clarified though is the rating system: "A" class means the chip has a 400 MHz FSB, "B" class means 533 MHz FSB, and "C" class means 800 MHz FSB. Once you get that down, its pretty easy to shop for a Northwood. The C class Northwoods come with Hyper-Threading technology to speed up some applications. The Northwood is good for mid-range to high end users, workstations, and most gamers. They also have a standard Level 2 cache of 512K. Cons There are very few cons to buying a Pentium 4 Northwood. They are stable, proven, and have a reasonable price. Just beware; if you buy a pre-built system, most manufactures will not tell you which class of chip they are selling you. You need to pay careful attention to the FSB on them, because a "great deal" on a Pentium 4 may not be such a great deal if it has a low FSB (meaning it doesn't use all the features of the C class). Processor: AMD Athlon XP - Barton Core Release Date: Early 2003 Speed Range: 1.8 GHz (333 MHz FSB) - 2.2 GHz (400 MHz FSB) Price Range: $82 - $199 Pros Another chip that is good for mid-range through most high-end users, the Barton is stable, efficient and can handle most games without a problem. They have a standard Level 2 cache of 512K. It can handle mild multitasking without a problem. Cons Again, like the Northwood, there are not many cons to buying a Barton chip. They are the most proven of the newer cores and can still handle new games effectively. Entry Level / Budget Chips Processor: AMD Sempron Release Date: Mid 2004 Speed Range: 1.5 GHZ - 2.0 GHz (333 MHz FSB) Price Range: $61 - $128 Pros This is a very effective budget processor for users who do not intend to use their computers for much more than word processing, internet / email, and Instant Messaging. It is also stable and effective when not much is running. Cons Its FSB is very low compared to standard, at 333 MHz, and its Level 2 cache is lower than normal also, at 256K. It will not handle much multi-tasking or anything that uses heavy loads. It is meant for a very basic, entry user. Processor: Intel Celeron D Release Date: Mid 2004 Speed Range: 2.26 GHz - 2.93 GHz (533 MHz FSB) Price Range: $68 - $124 Pros The Celeron D's are an awesome buy. Based on the Prescott core, these chips have great speed for a great price. They can handle some multi-tasking, but not a whole lot. They are great for budget users because they offer decent speed at a decent price. Cons The Celeron D's have a low Level 2 cache of 256K and a mid range FSB of 533 MHz. Other than that, they are a great buy.
Server Processors Second are the server processors. These processors are best for all different types of servers, including file servers, application servers, and web servers. There are only two recent processors out there in this category, one from AMD and one from Intel. Processor: Intel Xeon Release Date: Early 2002 Speed Range: 2.4 GHz (533 MHz FSB) - 3.6 (800 MHz FSB) Price Average: $250 - $400 Pros The newer Xeons come with 1MB of Level 2 cache, and some versions even come with 1MB of Level 3 cache. These chips are very stable and can handle lots of load for extended periods of time. Some include 64 bit instructions, while some do not. It is a very impressive chip overall. Cons There is a lot of variance in features on these chips and it gets somewhat confusing. The more you pay the better of all around chip you get, feature wise. Prices range from $229 - $875 depending on speed and features. Processor: AMD Opteron Release Date: Mid 2003 Speed Range: 1.4 GHz - 2.4 GHz (FSB Integrated into chip) Price Average: $250 - $400 Pros All of the Opteron chips have a Level 2 cache of 1MB and have a 64 bit instruction set. They have great stability and can handle very heavy loads. Cons The Opteron prices vary greatly depending on features, anywhere from $158 - $865.
Laptop Processors Last, I will be going over most of the laptop processors on the market. Since the mobile chips are essentially the same as their desktop counterparts, I will only go into one chip that is completely made for laptops - Intel's Centrino Technology. All the mobile chips are basically the same as their desktop counterparts, except they tend to use less voltage that helps extend battery life. Processor: Intel Centrino Mobile Technology Intel has tried to extend the capabilities of laptops by building a system with custom hardware that allows for optimum battery life and has built in wireless network capability. The technology has really caught on in the last year, passing skeptical critic's expectations. For more information on Centrino Technology, check out Intel's official site for it.
Conclusion Well, I think I have covered all the current processors on the market, and hope I have provided you with some helpful tips so when you are ready to buy, you will know what to look for. Please understand that technology changes on a daily basis, and all information in this article was valid at the time it was published. Hopefully, you have learned something about processors while reading through it!
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