Processors for Advanced Desktops and Laptops
Remember: Processors for desktops are different than those for laptops.
For an Advanced Desktop Computer, you’re basically looking for a beefy 8-cylinder engine in a speedy sports car. Since an advanced computer should be able to multi-task without flinching, we recommend purchasing a new desktop computer with one of the following:
*Intel Core i7 processor (with something such as an 8MB L3 Cache, 2.66GHz speed).
*Intel has th Intel Core i7 Processor Extreme Edition, which they claim to be their fastest and smartest processor to date. You’ll see these processors in a new line of high-end desktops from Dell, called Alienware, which start in the $2,000 plus range. Based on reviews, this processor and the Alienware desktop are extremely fast and powerful.
For an Advanced Laptop Computer, we recommend buying a laptop with at least an Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 processor or an Intel Core i7-720QM Quad Core Processor. As of this writing (March 2010), these are the fastest processors on the market for laptops. If you want to have something faster, you’ll have to check out an advanced desktop. You can only put so much power in a little laptop body!
Memory for Advanced Desktops and Laptops
For an Advanced Desktop Computer, we recommend purchasing a machine with at least 6 GB of SDRAM memory. You may also see memory listed for higher performance machines listed as something like “3GB DDR3 Tri-Channel SDRAM at 1066MHz – 3 DIMMs.” For simplicity’s sake, look at the amount of GB’s and SDRAM. As usual, the higher the GB’s you see listed, the more capacity your machine will have.
For an Advanced Laptop Computer, we recommend purchasing a machine with at least 4 to 6 GB of DDR3 memory.
Hard Drives for Advanced Desktops and Laptops
For an Advanced Desktop, we recommend buying a desktop with at least a 750GB through a 1TB (Terabyte) hard drive.
For an Advanced Laptop, we recommend buying a laptop with a least a 500GB through a 750GB hard drive.