The processor is the first buying decision, since it affects other aspects of the PC such as the motherboard and power supply, which we'll come to shortly. Two companies, AMO and Intel, essentially control the PC processor marketplace. Even the cheapest modern processor from either firm will be fast enough to cater for internet browsing and word¬processing. Moreover, spending Rs.1O,OOO on a top end processor is no guarantee of a big speed boost over a Rs.5,OOO one - there are too many other factors at play. That said, avoid Pentium 4 processors (Intel's last generation) and AMO's older Athlon X2 models found in bargain bins. These chips use more power than the current generation so any initial savings could be wiped out by higher electricity bills.

Modern processors tend to have more than one core and, in theory, the more cores a CPU has, the better the overall performance. The reality, though, is that a dual-core chip will suffice because few applications and games can make use of processors with four cores (called quad-core chips). So, what should you buy? Well, we're going to avoid giving specific recommendations because this feature is not a buying guide. Currently, Intel has the performance lead over AMO, with Intel's Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad being noticeably faster than AMO's Phenom chips. However, the Phenom processors are less expensive.

For our example, we'll use a Core 2 Duo E6750, running at 2.67GHz, but any modern processor will do. As a rule, the higher the frequency (the GHz number) the faster the processor. But this rule doesn't apply when comparing AMO with Intel processors or when comparing older generations of processors with newer ones (a 3.8GHz Pentium 4 is slower than a 2.67GHz Core 2 Duo). Consider power consumption also. Each processor is listed with a TOP (thermal design power) figure. The higher this is the more energy it uses and the higher the environmental impact and electricity bill.
Shops will often list components in two variants: OEM and retail.



OEM (original equipment manufacturer) products are designed for PC manufacturers and come with little packaging and accessories. Retail products are more expensive but come with a well-presented box and often some software and hardware accessories. For the purpose of building a PC, it's often worth saving the cash and buying OEM products. A retail processor will come with its own cooler (fan), but cheaper OEM chips won't. However, a CPU cooler is a necessity so when buying one, make sure it is compatible with the processor being used. Only a few processor fans include a thermal pad, but these are essential to ensure good contact between the processor and cooler. So, it's important to buy some processor thermal paste costing around anywhere between Rs.50 to Rs.1OO from any local computer retail store.