![\"September-October](\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/09\/september-october-builders-guide.jpg?resize=525%2C300\" "\\"September-October")
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Written by: Leon Hyman<\/p>\n
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INTRODUCTION<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n This guide is intended to be used as a reference when purchasing or upgrading new hardware.\u00a0 This entire guide is based on the price\/performance, or best bang-for-buck ideology.\u00a0 These recommendations are solely based on my facts, experience and personal opinions.<\/p>\n In each section, there are 5 parts listed in the following levels based on price<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Please note that:<\/em><\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n CPUs \/ PROCESSORS<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Based on the prices of the current processor line-ups, it is difficult to see why anyone would recommend a single core processor, and as such, the only recommendations that I make are for dual and quad core.<\/p>\n Dual vs Quad Debate<\/span><\/p>\n This is a debate that has been ongoing for the last two years or so, but it is only recently that we in the tech community have somewhat come to a consensus.\u00a0 It has been proven that, whether you overclock or not, faster dual cores will outperform slower quads in applications (including games) that only make use of two cores. Quad cores start to pull ahead with the power hungry applications that make use of more than two cores.<\/p>\n The other concept behind this debate has been \u201cfuture-proofing\u201d.\u00a0 Some argue that this is a silly premise to base a purchase on, given that there is always something better just around the corner and with that comes further price reduction of current hardware. Those that agree with this line of argument are usually people with more frequent upgrade cycles. Those that do not upgrade often, tend to defend the concept of \u201cfuture-proofing\u201d their machines.<\/p>\n My recommendation is, if you don\u2019t<\/em> plan to upgrade within the next two years, you will be better off buying a quad core processor now. For the frequent upgrader, grabbing a fast dual-core now will be a strong choice. The other option is, however, to wait for Intel\u2019s new line of processors, Core i7 (more commonly known as Nehalem), but that is a whole different story.\u00a0 This guide is for what to buy in September 2008.<\/p>\n As always, all purchases are defined by what matters most, your budget<\/strong>.\u00a0 So here we go, the following are my recommendations.<\/p>\n\n
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![\"September-October](\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/09\/september-october-gpus.jpg?resize=464%2C317\" "\\"September-October")
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