Central Processing Unit "CPU" of a computer is the core to every operation by the user and by the hardware of the computer. Picture yourself calculating 43billion numbers in a second. Yeah, that's what I thought - say hello to asprin. Anyway, As with video cards, the best processors change every few months, new series of processors come out 1up'ing the previous. The two main companies are AMD (Advanced Micro Design) and Intel. You can find the newest processors on their web sites. Look to the right to find a link to each.

       General rule of thumb (as of 5-7-03) buy better than a 2.4GHz Processor. These processors are great, but in a little while they'll be long gone. In terms of money, AMD processors are less expensive than those of Intel but a 2.4GHz AMD does NOT EQUAL a 2.4GHz Intel - The AMD is faster! AMD = cheap/fast/reliable Intel = expensive/semi-fast/reliable. Just for the record: Intel's stocks on the US market are generally terrible too.