computer tech

If you know the basics, skip this part, but I want to make sure all bases are covered. The processor is the mind of your computer. It does your computation, it rallies the "soldiers" as it were, your video card, your peripherals, your sound... The speed and architecture of your processor basically defines how your machine is going to run. It's a chip inside your machine, plugged into your motherboard.

The most important thing to think of is: what do I want my machine to do? The biggest mistake many people make is spending too much money on a machine, because they think faster is always better. Well, it is, but is it always worth it? If you want to surf the web, or do spreadsheets and word processing, you'll be perfectly happy with a "middle of the road" processor, around 400 to 500 mhz or less. If you play lots of 3D games or other demanding applications, and have the money to spare, then go all out.

One important thing to remember is that the top of the line processors are ALWAYS overpriced. After a top of the line processor is released, it usually drops $100 a week in price for about a month.

That being said, if you're buying a processor, there are two things to consider. If you are upgrading an existing system, you have to buy a new processor that fits your current architecture. Processors come in "slot" and "socket" architecture, and their bus speed also determines which motherboard they can go in. If this lingo confuses you, never fear, there's a vocabulary section below.