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Making Sense of CPU and GPU Model Numbers?

Posted by kdawson on from the drowning-in-a-sea-of-specs dept.

b4dc0d3r writes "How do you make sense of the various model numbers or naming schemes for CPUs, graphics cards, and the related chipsets? All I want is something that will run Oblivion and output full 1080 video to a TV. Last time I built my own computer I just went to Pricewatch, made a few easy choices, and everything came to my door. Do I really have to research the differences among Core i5, Core 2 Duo, Pentium 4, Pentium D, Sempron, Athlon, Phenom ...? And that's just the processor. Is there a reference somewhere? In short, how do you buy a computer these days?"

9 of 555 comments (clear)

  1. Ars technica by mailuefterl · · Score: 5, Informative

    Try the Ars technica system guide:
    http://arstechnica.com/hardware/guides/2009/10/ars-system-guide-october-2009-edition.ars

  2. Tom's Hardware by nutshell42 · · Score: 5, Informative
    Tom's Hardware offers GPU hierarchy charts and recommendations in their Best Graphics Cards For The Money articles.

    Ditto for CPUs: Best Gaming CPUs For The Money

    --
    Don't think of it as a flame---it's more like an argument that does 3d6 fire damage
  3. Two comprehensive lists by G3ckoG33k · · Score: 5, Informative

    Check out http://www.cpubenchmark.net/ and http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/ With a pinch of salt you can make a relevant decision based on those two, even if Googling around would make your decision even better. .

  4. techreport System Guide by mo^ · · Score: 5, Informative

    I usually find the advice from tech report's periodical System Guide to be very useful and relevant.

    Their latest report came out a couple of weeks ago. They focus on a range of options at various price points and requirements.

    sorry to attempt to answer your question and not shill Apple.

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    bah!*@%!
  5. Hardware virtualization by thue · · Score: 5, Informative

    Make sure that the CPU you buy supports hardware virtualization, for running virtual machines. Every computer enthusiast should want to run virtual machines!

    I think all current AMD CPUs support hardware virtualization. But Intel in their infinite market segmentation wisdom has decided to randomly disable hardware virtualization on various CPUs in their lineup, so look before you buy. The funny thing is that very few computer salesmen know for which CPUs hardware virtualization is enabled, so the only result of Intel's market segmentation is confusion and dissatisfied customers.

    1. Re:Hardware virtualization by cbope · · Score: 5, Informative

      Actually, Intel has gone and done something even more stupid than that: They even disable the virtualization extensions within processors of the same model number! Within a model, there may be multiple sspec numbers. Some sspecs may support virtualization and some may not. I don't have a specific example at hand, but I have seen it when using the Intel sspec finder tool on their website.

      So you not only need to understand which models "may" support virtualization, you also have to qualify it with looking up the model's sspec. Utter stupidity on the part of Intel for that.

  6. Re:Buy a new Mac every 3 years by machine321 · · Score: 5, Informative

    I know Macs have model numbers and I know they have CPU's which also have model numbers. I don't know any of those numbers.

    You can hand in your five-digit Slashdot ID now.

  7. These helped me by jalefkowit · · Score: 5, Informative

    I have found these resources indispensable in figuring out how modern CPUs and GPUs compare to each other:

    ... primarily because these tables are dynamic: find the part you're currently using (or want to use as your baseline for comparison) in the table, click on it, and then all the other parts in the table are immediately color-coded as to how much of a step forwards or backwards they are from that part, based on a normalized performance rating.

    (It's pathetic that the marketing departments at the companies that make these things are so incompetent that we need tools like these to sort out what exactly they're selling us, but until they get on the ball I'm glad these tools exist.)

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    Read my blog.

  8. Only 2 components worth researching... by denzacar · · Score: 5, Informative

    Motherboard and PSU. Don't try to save money on these two by buying cheaper.

    Everything else is determined only by how much money you have to spend.
    Also, everything else can be upgraded/replaced without having to replace other components.

    Pay close attention to PSUs 12V amperage - don't buy cheap Chinese ones that have hundreds of theoretical Watts but give only about 20 Amps on 12V.
    12V is for all of your coolers, hard-drives (including external ones), optical drives and anything else you attach to it that has a motor or movable parts.
    Buy ULTRA or Corsair (if you can't afford a ULTRA).

    With motherboards, pay extra for the Deluxe or Pro model - however they call it.
    Compare it to the "regular" version of the motherboard.
    If it looks almost the same with maybe another PCI or USB slot added - the pricier one is the one that actually works as intended/advertised.
    The cheaper "regular" model probably couldn't quite cut it, so it got downgraded from the original intended specs.

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    Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens