Processor Comparison

If you are planning to buy a desktop or laptop computer, first thing you would do is check the processor. The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is a vital part of computer hardware. Processor remains to be the deciding element, when determining how fast or speedy the system would be, while working on several applications. Comparison of laptops would depend upon the interests of the user. For instance, someone would be more interested in multimedia or gaming use of computers, whereas others would be more interested in running CPU intensive applications. Obviously, this user will need to engage in processor speed comparison.

A processor can be considered as the brain of a computer. Microprocessor can be defined as a single chip processor. It is the principal component of the computing device, which executes the instructions of a computer program. While speaking about the best options, Intel and AMD would be the two top line coming to your mind. CPU is a fixed part or element. You can upgrade hard disk or RAM (Random Access Memory), however, the central processing unit would remain the same for entire life of the computer, unless you replace it too, along with the motherboard. As the computer programs are getting more and more refined, the CPU capabilities such as processing speed, compatibility with different applications such as multimedia or gaming, should be advanced to support these complex applications. Let's compare Intel with AMD, based on some key elements.

Intel

Today, the market leader is undoubtedly Intel. All Apple computers such as iMac, MacBook Pro and MacBook are equipped with Intel processors. Intel's latest offerings in CPUs are Core i7, Core i5 and Core i3 processors. Intel's Core i7 offers up to 6 cores. For advanced and complex applications, this 64-bit processor integrates Turbo Boost and Hyper-Threading mechanism. Turbo Boost mechanism increases the performance by overclocking the operating frequency to higher levels. Quad core Intel core i7 mobile processors specialize in saving power and can be availed on notebooks.

The mid-end crop of Intel processors include Pentium dual core and Core 2 Duo processors. Core 2 Duo is a twin core processor, equipped to improve multimedia and computer gaming performance. The basic line of Intel include Intel core i3, Intel Atom, Intel Centrino Duo and Intel Centrino, working best for mobile computing.

AMD

AMD processors are offered in 3 categories such as basic, mid-end and high-end. The basic crop includes Athlon Neo X2, Athlon Neo and AMD Sempron. AMD Sempron serves to be the best option for low-cost laptops. If you are looking for very basic requisites such as Internet surfing, you may want to consider this processor. When it comes to power consumption by netbooks, Athlon Neo X2 and Athlon Neo prove to be economical.

Mid-end range of AMD include Turion II Ultra, Turion II and Phenom II X3. Phenom II X3 is a 64-bit processor with 3 cores, providing best performance at economical cost. High-end AMD processors include AMD Phenom II X6 and AMD Phenom II X4. X6 is a 6 core processor, providing the highest degree of performance for most complicated tasks. Phenom II X4 is a quad core processor, suitable for applications such as virtualization and multimedia.

Factor	Intel	AMD
Heating	Slower heating	Faster heating
Processing speed	Faster	Slower
Price	More	Less
Multimedia & Gaming Applications	Less suitable for gaming	Better gaming & multimedia o/p.
Power utilization	Highly efficient	Lower efficiency than intel

You can make a comparison chart, based on factors such as applications, support for multimedia or gaming, price, processing speed et al. I hope you found this article helpful.