Needless to say, the processor(CPU) is the heart of any computer. There are two basic categories of processors based on their architecture. The RISC based processors and the CISC based processors. The Power PC processors from Motorola such as the G series of processors are based on the RISC( Reduced Instruction Set Computing) architecture. These CPUs power the Apple Macintosh computers. The CISC( Complex Instruction Set Computing) architecture is found in the CPUs manufactured by Intel, AMD & Cyrix. These processors find a place in all PCs that comform to the IBM PC standard. I will limit this guide to the IBM PC compatibles.

In the IBM PC systems, you can get two main types of systems. Those based on the Socket7 architecture & those based on the Slot1 architecture. Recently Intel announced that it will launch the Slot2! Why this difference? Well, Intel wanted some means to clear away from the competition from AMD and Cyrix. This ensured that its coffers would not deplete.

The plain vanilla Pentium & MMXs, AMD K6 & K6-2 and the Cyrix 6x86 & M-II are the processors designed for socket 7 architecture. The ordinary Pentium is already dead, & the MMX variety is also in danger of extinction. Intel will probably stop production of the Pentium MMX 233 by the end of 1998, though mobile versions of these will be available.
The AMD K6 and the Cyrix 6x86 were introduced as low cost alternatives to the Pentiums. These first generation processors had some compatibility issues with certain software. The main drawback of these two chips were their poor floating point units. This weakness clearly showed in games such as Quake, which are floating point intensive. They were unable to match the very strong FPUs of the Pentiums. But their good Buisness app benchmark results meant that they were geared up more for the office.

If you  are in the look-out for a socket 7 based system, the two chips that hold promise are the AMD K6-2 with 3D Now! & the Cyrix M-II. These processors give the most bang for the buck offering Pentium II level performance at a very competitive price. Of these, watch out for the K6-2 with 3D Now!, whose performance is bound to send some wrong signals to Intel. These two chips perform best when coupled with a Super 7 mothernboard.

If Slot 1 is your way of thinking, then you probably don't have to make a tough decision. Pentium IIs have their secondary cache along with the CPU in the cartridge itself. They run at half the speed of the processor making for a very fast data path between the cache & the CPU. All you have to consider is the amount of money you can spend and accordingly go for the faster processor. Pentium IIs are the only CPUs that fit into the Slot 1 and are available from 233-450Mhz. At present don't think of buying the Pentium II 233Mhz, as just for a bit more, you can get the 266Mhz version. In my opinoin don't even consider the Celeron processor in its present guise. Without the L2 cache, it is like a snake that has lost its teeth.

So which is best?
If you don't want to spend that much extra for a Pentium II based system, AMD K6-2 with 3D Now! Else dive right into the Pentium II market.

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