Choosing your Processor(s)
The processor is a very important consideration in building a PC. What processor you put on your computer will have a great impact on how your computer will perform. The first thing that you must decide is which chip manufacturer you are going to use.
- Intel
- AMD
Software compatibility is really not an issue. Both Intel and AMD chips run nearly any software program that you would want to run on your computer. So choosing Intel or AMD will not be limiting what programs you are going to run.
Mostly it comes down to personal preference. Intel is well known and trusted. AMD, generally will give you more processing power for what you spend. I have built both types of systems, and do not feel real strongly either way. For my own personal computers I have generally used Intel. For high-end server computers, I am very found of the AMD Opteron.
Which chip you use will dictate what motherboard you purchase. Intel and AMT motherboards are NOT compatible.
AMD Processor Options
There are several different AMD chips that you can choose from.
- Duron
- Sempron
- Athlon
- Athlon MP
- Opteron
Each of these chips is designed for a specific type of application. Table 1-3 summarizes these.
Table 1-3: AMD Chips
| Chip | Description |
| Duron | The Duron was released in the summer of 2000 as a low-cost alternative to AMD's own Athlon processor, the Pentium III and Celeron processors. The Duron is pin-compatible with the Athlon and virtually indistinguishable from it, operating on the same motherboards in most cases. The Duron is a good choice for economy computers. |
| Sempron | Sempron is AMD's newest low-end CPU. It is replacing the Duron processor, and will compete against Intel's Celeron D processor. For an economy computer, if the price difference between Duron and Sempron is small, go with Sempron. |
| Athlon | The mid-line processor for AMT. Most of the AMD computers that I have built have been Athlon based. |
| Athlon MP | The multiprocessor version of the Athlon. This chip can be used on multiprocessor compatible motherboards. |
| Athlon 64 | A consumer 64-bit processor. For a high-end system, this would be a good choice. |
| Opteron | A server/high-end 64-bit processor. For a high-end server, this would be a good choice. |
For most projects I would recommend the Athlon. If you are building an economy system, I would recommend the Duron or Sempron.
Once you choose your chip make sure your motherboard supports that chip. To do this make sure that the “socket type” matches between your motherboard and chip. Most sites list the “socket type” for both the chips and motherboards that they sell.
Intel Processor Options
Intel also makes several different chips for you to choose from. Each of these chips is targeted at a specific use. The chips made by Intel are listed here.
- Celeron
- Celeron D
- Pentium 3
- Pentium 4
- Pentium D
- Xeon
Table 1-4 summarizes each of these chip types.
Table 1-4: Intel Chips
| Chip | Description |
| Celeron | Celerons are Intel’s economy chip line. The Celeron is a good choice for a economy computer. It will give adequate performance for general computer use. |
| Celeron D | The Celeron D Intel’s latest addition to the Celeron line, they are faster than regular Celerons, yet still economy priced. |
| Pentium 3 | Was the predecessor to the Pentium 4. Perhaps useful for an economy computer, however, unless you have a motherboard already that requires a P3, I would use a Celeron. |
| Pentium 4 | Pentium 4 is the current mid-range chip offered by Intel. Most of the Intel computers that I currently build are Pentium 4. |
| Pentium D | A very high-end chip that is dual core. It contains two Pentium chips and is effectively a dual processor in a single chip. |
| Xeon | A high-end version of the Pentium 4, designed specifically for server computers and multiprocessor systems. |
For most projects I would recommend a Pentium 4. If you are building an economy system, I would recommend the Celeron or Celeron D.
Many of these chips can also be bought with a “hyperthreading” option. Hyperthreading allows the chip to multitask very effectively, giving the effect of having two processors. If you run many programs at once the hyperthreading (HT) will give you improved performance. Hyperthreading is offered as an option on the Pentium 4, Pentium D and Xeon chips.
If you choose to buy a hyperthreading chip, you must also buy a hyperthreading compatible motherboard.
Cooling Fans
A processor MUST have a cooling fan. If it does not, it will be damaged very quickly!
I recommend buying processors WITH the cooling fan. This saves you the trouble of finding a compatible cooling fan for your processor, since there are many different cooling fans for different processors.
Multi or Single Processor
You can also build a multi processor computer. A multiprocessor computer has more than one main chip in it. Choosing to build a multiprocessor computer will add greatly to the cost of building the computer. If you build a dual system, you will have to buy two main chips instead of one. Also, the multiprocessor motherboards are more expensive than the single processor versions. You will also need a chip that is compatible with multiprocessing, such as the Athlon MP or Intel Xeon.
Figure 1-3: A motherboard with two Athlon MP chips (under the fans)
As you can see, the above motherboard has two main chips. Each requires their own cooling fan.
