How Important is Processor Speed?
Selecting a processor speed is one of the most important decisions that consumers make when purchasing a new computer. Websites and salespeople may try to upsell you, but is all of that extra power really necessary? By keeping the purpose of your computer in mind, it can be easy to choose a computer with just the right amount of power to fit your needs.
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Operating System Considerations
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Windows XP requires a recommended processor speed of just 300 MHz, while Windows Vista suggests a processor with at least 1 GHz. It is always a good idea to have a system that exceeds the requirements of the installed operating system; many lightweight, ultraportable laptops may not have the processor muscle necessary to run Vista.
Web Browsing and Communication
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Nearly every computer built in the last 10 years has more than enough power for web browsing, email and online chatting. Aesthetics and cost, not processor speed, should be the primary concerns when purchasing a computer that will be used as an Internet appliance.
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Office Software
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Processor speed is not a great concern in a computer that will primarily be used for word processing and spreadsheets, unless the documents created will be very large or contain scripting elements like Visual Basic. A computer that meets or exceeds the system requirements for the operating system installed will be able to handle office applications without any problem. The recommended processor speed for Microsoft Office 2007 is just 500 MHz.
Gaming
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In a computer that will be used for compute-intensive 3-D games, a fast processor can greatly enhance performance---but only if it is paired with a fast video card. In a gaming system, it is important to have both a processor and a video card with similar quality to avoid creating a bottleneck. When building or buying a gaming computer on a tight budget, it is often better to choose an upgraded video card than an upgraded processor, if only one can be purchased.
Content Production
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Producing content, whether videos, music or images, truly taxes a processor. If you'll use your computer for any of these activities, select the fastest processor you can afford. For example, benchmark tests have shown that the latest Intel Core i7 processor provides up to twice as much speed applying filters to images in Adobe Photoshop as a Core 2 Duo processor. This increased speed can translate to greatly increased productivity.
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