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Over the Christmas break I have realised that my good old home machine just doesn’t cut it anymore. I’ve had it for years and the gap between my work computers performance and it is just to much. I am looking at replacing it but which processor, motherboard, memory GPU etc?
Years ago when the Pentium was first released putting a machine together was a little less complex. CPU form factor was slot 1. Then AMD come along and the whole thing went mad the permutations for CPU, motherboard and RAM getting more and more complex. Added to this the GPU & additional card bus types and things get very complex indeed. Trying to build a PC that optimum spec per £/$/€ isn’t easy.
Intel’s Processor list
In the past I have simply gone for Dell (www.dell.co.uk/tv) as its easy but its always a trade off between middle of the road or big bucks e.g. I would like a quad core CPU but don’t care for the disco case or GPU that can do 20 squillian 3d rendered object per nano second 
So here is a CPU comparison from Intel (AMD to follow) to help you get to grips with processors current state of play.
Intel (Desktop Orientated)
Very nice side by side comparison of the latest and greatest in the Intel processor family.
http://compare.intel.com/pcc/default.aspx?familyID=1
Intel (Server Orientated)
Select the processor by clicking the 
next to the processors
Then select Compare on the menu
The good thing about this site is you can also look at the chipsets that go with the processors to confirm compatibility. It removes that slight worry that the 50 hours research missed that one vital nugget of information that will make you wish you had gone for the Dell
Other Intel Resources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Intel_processors
I’ll do the AMD one in my next post
Happy New Year