Note: You may have noticed that the site is undergoing a massive redesign. Not only is it being redone to feature the new two-table format (with the red column down the left side), but the eleven humongous pages are being broken up into ~160 smaller pages. As a result, I'm having to rearrange the pages among different AOL accounts (at some point I intend to move the whole kit and kaboodle to another, more usable server, probably IBD.net), and often the page links point to old, out-of-date locations. I am slowly fixing all of the links, and soon all the pages should have up-to-date formatting and links. But that won't be today, or even this week. The home page should -- should -- have the correct links, but don't be surprised if you get "Page Not Found" errors for a little while. The pages are there, they're just not where they're supposed to be. Bear with me, I'm working on it. As always, your comments and questions are welcome.

Note #2: This is a column originally written for PCSupport.com (as was the last one), but never run by that site. The next series of columns are a multipart set dealing with "crashproofing" your computer -- another series of columns slated for PCSupport but never appearing on that site. I had my problems with that outfit, but they do provide a worthy service, and I encourage you to check them out and see what they offer.
--mt

The average Windows PC buyer goes into the average store with about the same level of preparation as the average car buyer: not much. They've seen the TV ads with the Devo-esque Intel dancers, they might have seen the competing AMD ads, but most PC buyers aren't 100% sure that the chips that power their prospective purchase aren't really made by happy elves in a hollow tree.

Why does it matter? Does the average non-techie need to know what kind of chip is driving the wagon? Actually, yes, to an extent. The car buyer needs to know something about the engine that drives his new purchase, although he doesn't need the technical knowledge required to, say, perform a ring job. The same level of knowledge applies to you, the PC buyer. Here's a few tips.

First off, you don't need to worry about Intel vs. non-Intel. Manufacturers such as AMD, Centaur, and Via/Cyrix make perfectly acceptable chips, so no matter which way the salesguy slants his pitch, that's not a deciding factor. Well, maybe not the Cyrix chips.

You do need to know about "bang for the buck." In this case, it's true that the more you spend, the more oomph your PC's chip will have. If you're willing to spend over a grand, then look for an Intel Pentium-III or AMD Athlon-driven machine. Compare the speeds of the chips (measured in MHz, or megahertz). They run anywhere from 450MHz to over 1000MHz (1 gigahertz, or GHz -- think Tasmanian Devil speed), and the faster the chip, the more you'll spend. Speed isn't the be-all end-all of your purchasing decision by any means, though, so don't feel compelled to lay out your last dollar for a few extra MHz. Most non-techie users can't tell that much difference between, say, 500MHZ and 650MHz.

You can find excellent, speedy machines for well under a thousand simply by dropping down to the next level of chip. Intel and AMD are fighting hard for this market niche, with AMD's aging K6-2 and newer K-7 chips battling Intel's Celeron family for dominance. The war means better prices for you. The Celeron is a powerful little fella for its price, and considered by many a steal of a deal. AMD's offerings are just as worthwhile, except that the K6 family is getting a little old and isn't as adept at handling heavy graphics input. The new Duron chip is another muscular offering, easily equal to its direct competitor, the Celeron, but not available as widely as AMD might like.

The lowest end of the chip market is a feeding frenzy. AMD, Via/Cyrix, and other, lesser-known vendors are locked in a death struggle for your PC dollar, and that's why we're seeing decently equipped PCs selling for as low as $300. These chips aren't as speedy as their big brethren, and Lara Croft won't blast the bad guys as quickly or as smoothly, but for normal Web surfing and Office-type apps, these chips do just fine. (Don't forget Intel's Pentium II's -- they're plenty powerful enough, not yet out of date, and often sold on the cheap.)

Most importantly, you have to decide what your needs are. Do you mainly work with programs like word processors, spreadsheets, and databases? Is your Web use mostly limited to everyday surfing, with file downloads, Flash animations, and multimedia use at a minimum? Then just about any chip out there will suit your needs. Spend your money on software, a better monitor, or fancier sound or video cards. On the other hand, if you're a major Web warrior, a heavy gamer or multimedia addict, or you run system-intensive programs like CAD utilities or graphics design packages, you need all the "oomph" you can afford from a chip. No matter what your needs, if you comparison-shop, do your homework, and check both online and in-store offerings, you'll find a chip that suits both your needs and your pocketbook.