2008-2009 Processor Guide

Specifications effective July 1, 2008

Specifications will be reviewed and updated as appropriate.

Information Systems & Computing (ISC) has developed this page to help Local Support Providers (LSPs) understand the many processor choices currently available. This guide does not cover enthusiast, workstation, or server processors.

ISC tracks ten different lines of processors, maximum clock speeds for each processor class are listed in parentheses.

AMD Sempron (2.2 GHz desktop/1.8 GHz notebook)

AMD's new low-end to mid-range processor, used in low-end desktops and low-end to mid-range notebooks.

Intel's Core Solo (1.83 GHz notebook)

Intel's previous generation low-end/low-power single core notebook processor. Generally replaced by the Core 2 Solo or the Core 2 Duo.

Intel's Core 2 Solo (1.2 GHz notebook)

Intel's current low-end/low-power single core notebook processor.

AMD Turion (2.2 GHz desktop/2.4 GHz notebook)

AMD's new low-end to mid-range processor, used in low-end desktops and low-end to mid-range notebooks.

Intel's Core Duo (2.33 GHz mobile)

Intel's mid-range dual core processor, available on notebooks. Has generally been replaced by the Core 2 Duo.

Intel's Pentium Dual Core (2.4 GHz desktop)

Intel's low-end dual core processor, available on desktops.

AMD Athlon X2 (3.2 GHz desktop/1.9 GHz desknote/1.9 GHz notebook)

AMD's current mid-range dual core processor, used in mid-range desktops and large (and battery-hungry) notebooks.

Intel's Core 2 Duo (3.16 GHz desktop/2.6 GHz desknote/2.6 GHz notebook)

Intel's mid-range to high-end dual core processor, available on both desktops and notebook. Currently the center of the market.

AMD Phenom 64 X3/X4 (2.5 GHz desktop)

AMD's current high-end three and four core processor, used in mid-range to high-end desktops.

Intel's Core 2 Quad (2.83 GHz desktop)

Intel's mid-range to high-end quad core processor, available on desktops.

Suggestions: ISC suggests Core 2 Duo or Athlon X2 processors for Performance PCs and Value PCs. Notebooks suggestions range from Core Solos on the extreme low-end to Core 2 Duos on the mid and high-end - almost all notebook users will be well served by the Core 2 Duo.

For Further Information

• AMD's Sempron, Turion, Athlon, and Phenom pages.
• Intel's central processor page.

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