Computing frustration
Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 10:37 pm
Hey all,
So now that the crashing economy has forced me to dial back my plans of totally replacing my aging computer's innards, I've decided that a mere processor swap--to get the most out of my also-aging AM2 socket--is probably in order. To that end, I have been confronted with this conundrum:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productco ... 6819103272
Basically, that's three versions of what seems to be the same processor. With two, the only difference is the wattage required; the odd man out has lower wattage, but also doesn't specify the chip family and has a combination of no L1 cache (and less L2 cache) and a smaller dye.
Somewhat embarrassingly, despite my occasional proficiency with computer issues, I've only ever half-understood the various specs that get tossed around with most computer components. Problematically, there is no "middle-ground" computing voice anymore: you are either a total moron or a savant, and attempts to answer this sort of question for oneself inevitably lead to crazy graphs and benchmarks on things I will never, ever use.
So, assembled folken: which do I want? Which is best? Given that (at the moment) they're all the same price with free shipping?
So now that the crashing economy has forced me to dial back my plans of totally replacing my aging computer's innards, I've decided that a mere processor swap--to get the most out of my also-aging AM2 socket--is probably in order. To that end, I have been confronted with this conundrum:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productco ... 6819103272
Basically, that's three versions of what seems to be the same processor. With two, the only difference is the wattage required; the odd man out has lower wattage, but also doesn't specify the chip family and has a combination of no L1 cache (and less L2 cache) and a smaller dye.
Somewhat embarrassingly, despite my occasional proficiency with computer issues, I've only ever half-understood the various specs that get tossed around with most computer components. Problematically, there is no "middle-ground" computing voice anymore: you are either a total moron or a savant, and attempts to answer this sort of question for oneself inevitably lead to crazy graphs and benchmarks on things I will never, ever use.
So, assembled folken: which do I want? Which is best? Given that (at the moment) they're all the same price with free shipping?