Cheap Computers and Parts

Deciding on a CPU (Processor)

We have to decide, do we want an AMD processor or Intel processor? Most of you don't know or just don't care as long as you're getting a good processor for a great price. The best thing to do is compare processors from both brands and find one you like that's got great reviews and a low price.

Note: If you're building a gaming PC that will use multiple video cards and prefer a certain type of Video Card GPU (ATI or Nvidia) it's best to build your computer around that. Not all AMD motherboards support SLI and not all Intel motherboards support Crossfire.

We prefer AMD mainly because of it's affordability and I personally have never had an AMD processor go bad after all these years. Most people agree AMD is the route to go for budget PCs but we will look at both brands and see which one offers the best deal.

Step 1: What To Look For

If you are following us down the AMD road, we will look at both Sempron and Athlon 64 X2 processors. If you want Intel, you may consider looking at Celeron and Celeron Dual-Core processors.

The first thing we need to do is go to a trusted online merchant and browse their CPU (Processor) list. To do this, we need to find their computer hardware list. Once there, we need to find the "CPUs (Processors)" subcategory. From there we can either select the price range we want or skip right to the processor brand we want (either AMD or Intel). The steps should look similar to this:

Computer Hardware List --> CPUs (Processors) --> Desktop (if on the list) -->Price or Brand (AMD or Intel) --> Series (Sempron, Athlon 64 X2)

Once we are on the Processors page, we should order the list by "lowest price" since we are building a budget PC.

We want a computer that's up-to-date but we don't obviously want to spend a lot of money. We can't buy the fastest processor but we don't always want to buy the slowest and cheapest either so we need to compromise.

If we buy the cheapest and slowest processor, chances are we will have to upgrade or build a new computer in a shorter period of time than if we spent a few extra dollars for a slightly faster one. We have to be careful when doing this, we can easily spend an extra $100 by spending a few extra dollars here and there so only spend it if it fits into your budget.

Computer technology is growing so quickly that by the time you read this page, some of the computer hardware we looked up and suggested throughout this virtual build will probably be discontinued or on the verge of becoming obsolete. Even if you buy the best, most expensive processor right now, there's a good chance that in less than a month it will already be outdated and a faster processor will takes its place.

With that being said, there's no point in purchasing the most expensive hardware unless you have the extra money to spend. If you see a processor you want but don't like the price, wait a month or two and the price will probably drop dramatically because of all the newer processors taking it's place.

When searching for a processor, here's some of the most important specs to look for:

OEM or Retail?
OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. In the world of hardware, this just means you are getting that specific piece of hardware and nothing else. If you purchase an OEM processor, there's a good chance it WILL NOT come with a heatsink and fan.

Brand: AMD
The manufacturer of the processor.

Processor Type: Desktop
This is very important. We don't want to accidentally purchase a mobile or workstation processor. We are focusing on desktop PC's.

Class (Series): Athlon 64 X2
The class is important to remember when looking for a compatible motherboard.

Multi-Core: Dual-Core
Single core processors are becoming obsolete and dual-core processors are becoming the standard. The more cores, the faster the processor in most cases.

Speed (Operating Frequency): 2.60GHz
The faster, the better in most cases. Since AMD and Intel processors work differently, if an AMD processor has a slightly lower operating frequency than an Intel processor, it doesn't mean it's physically slower than the Intel processor. If you are truly interested in knowing which processor is faster, look up benchmark tests in google. (Example: type "AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000 vs Intel Celeron E1600 benchmark" in google)

Interface (Socket): AM2
This is also REALLY important to remember. When we look for a compatible motherboard, the socket types for both the processor and motherboard MUST MATCH.

Cache Size: 2 x 512KB L2
Some more memory to help speed up access to data. Again, the more the better.

Bus Speed: 2000MHz (Also called Hyper Transport on AMD processors and sometimes referred to as "1000MHz (2000 MT/s)" )
The speed of the data transferred between the CPU and the north bridge. Don't worry if you don't understand that, just take note of the speed. We will use it when looking for a motherboard.

Fan: Included
You must always check to see if the processor comes with a fan. If it does not, you must purchase one separately and that can easily cost an extra $15 or more. For basic builds like this, the standard fan that comes with most processors will work fine. If you are building a gaming machine or wanting to overclock your processor, a better heatsink is needed.

Step 2: Comparing Processors

While looking for any product, whether it be a computer part or a lamp for your study, always look at the rating and read reviews if they are available. This will give you some good insight if the product is worth your money or something to stay away from. You will almost always see a negative review on a product, most of these you can ignore but if you see a common complaint, you should take it into serious consideration that there might be an issue with the product.

After taking a few minutes to search and compare processors, I found two single core processors that peaked my interest:

AMD Sempron LE-1300 Sparta - Retail

• Price: $39.99
• Brand: AMD
• Processor Type: Desktop
• Series: Sempron
• Socket: AM2
• Multi-Core: Single
• Operating Frequency: 2.3GHz
• L2 Cache: 512KB
• Bus (HT) Speed: 800MHz
• Includes Fan: Yes

• Pros:
• Cheap, reliable and faster than the Intel Celeron.

• Cons:
• It's an old technology, not as fast as dual-core processors.
• It's the only sempron processor I could find on our two trusted merchant sites.

Intel Celeron 430 Conroe - Retail

• Price: $39.99
• Brand: Intel
• Processor Type: Desktop
• Series: Celeron
• Socket: LGA 775
• Multi-Core: Single
• Operating Frequency: 1.8GHz
• L2 Cache: 512KB
• Bus Speed: 800MHz
• Includes Fan: Yes

• Pros:
• Cheap, reliable processor.

• Cons:
• Not as fast as the AMD or dual-core processors, also an old technology.

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000 - Retail

• Price: $54.99
• Brand: AMD
• Processor Type: Desktop
• Series: Athlon 64 X2
• Socket: AM2
• Multi-Core: Dual
• Operating Frequency: 2.6GHz
• L2 Cache: 2 x 512KB
• Bus (HT) Speed: 2000MHz (sometimes referred to as "1000MHz (2000 MT/s)" )
• Includes Fan: Yes

• Pros:
• Faster than the Intel Celeron dual-core processor, very good price for a dual-core processor, has great reviews.
• Great for budget PC builds.

• Cons:
• None

Intel Celeron E1600 - Retail

• Price: $61.99
• Brand: Intel
• Processor Type: Desktop
• Series: Celeron Dual-Core
• Socket: LGA 775
• Multi-Core: Dual
• Operating Frequency: 2.4GHz
• L2 Cache: 512KB
• Bus Speed: 800MHz
• Includes Fan: Yes

• Pros:
• Good price for a dual-core processor.

• Cons:
• Slower and more expensive than the AMD Athlon 64 X2.

Our Decision:

After thinking about it, I've decided to go with the AMD Athlon 64 X2 processor. I know it costs $15 more but it should save me money in the long run. It should be able to load more demanding videos and web site content for at least a year longer than the sempron. I look at it this way, I can either spend the extra $15 now and have my computer last me several more years than the sempron or I could save the $15 and pay another $400-500 in a few years when technology demands the faster computer.

Notes to take before the next lesson:

Since we decided on the AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000, if you haven't already, we need to note the following:

• Brand: AMD
• Interface (Socket): AM2
• Class (Series): Athlon 64 X2
• Bus Speed: 2000MHz (sometimes referred to as "1000MHz (2000 MT/s)" )

We need this information when searching for a motherboard to ensure the components are compatible. If the options don't match up, our motherboard and processor may not work together.

Next Lesson:

Our processor comes with a heatsink/fan but since your processor may be an OEM and not come with one or you just want better cooling than the stock heatsink, I'll provide the necessary steps to finding a new heatsink.

Continue to the next lesson: Lesson 5: How to Find a Cheap Heatsink.

Or skip ahead to Lesson 6: How to Find a Cheap Compatible Motherboard