Good news: Cutthroat competition for processor market share between arch rivals Intel and AMD has generated outstanding PC values. The current obsession with processor speeds makes yesterday's leading CPUs today's bargain.

Let's talk about speed: A CPU's speed, or clock rate, is measured in megahertz (millions of cycles per second). High clock rates don't necessarily equate to a high performance; a processor is only one of many factors that determines a PC's all-around ability. That said, clock rates can say much about a PC's class (high end, midrange, business, bargain). For example, the fastest processors are usually paired with equally cutting-edge components for maximum synergy (and maximum profits!). On the bargain front, while low-cost Celeron- or Duron-based PCs are perfectly suitable for average home use, they'll sorely disappoint anyone interested in 3D games if they lack dedicated video cards and sport only 64MB of system RAM. For business users, a PC a notch or two below the gamester is usually just fine--10GB of storage, 64MB of RAM, a fast Celeron, a 17-inch monitor.

How fast should your PC's processor be? The answer hinges on your budget and needs. With a little research, you can find surprisingly fast, well-heeled systems for less than $1,000. See below to pick the processor that's right for you, and remember to look for appropriately matched components as well.

• Business users: You don't need a rocket, just solid performance. Anything in the 700MHz Celeron or faster range is plenty.
• Gamers: You'll definitely want to go with a Pentium III, a Pentium 4, or an Athlon.
• Home users: Just about any chip will do.
• Bargain hunters: Pentium III-, Celeron-, Athlon-, Duron-, or PowerPC G3-based machines will fit your budget.
• Gamers and multimedia producers: Pony up and score a Pentium III, a Pentium 4, an Athlon, a PowerPC G3, or a PowerPC G4.
 

Intel Pentium 4
 
What to expect:
Unrivaled 3D processing power; so-so business applications performance; a high price tag.
On November 20, 2000, Intel introduced its current flagship processor, the Pentium 4, at 1.4GHz and 1.5GHz speeds. Although Pentium 4-based PCs show significant speed increases over the Pentium III systems when running some high-end graphics applications and Quake III, they fail to comparatively outperform the older (and much cheaper) CPU in everyday applications. Hard-core gamers and graphics designers may benefit from Pentium 4's multimedia prowess; however, it can't compete with the well-rounded performance and competitive price of AMD's Athlon. Typical users don't need pricey Pentium 4-based systems for basic computing

Intel Pentium III
 
What to expect:
Ample power for business applications, graphics work, and gaming, at a great price.
Pentium III processors are often featured in richly configured home PCs that sell at $1,000. With a maximum speed of 1GHz, the Pentium III comes in three flavors, the original Pentium III (450MHz to 600MHz), Pentium III B (533MHz and 600MHz) and Pentium III E (500MHz to 866MHz, 933MHz, and 1GHz to 1.3GHz). The 1.13GHz chips were buggy and recalled by Intel soon after shipping. The latest model, Pentium III E (Coppermine) is up to 25 percent faster than earlier Pentium III CPUs running at the same clock speed and consumes less power.

AMD Athlon
 
What to expect:
More bang for the buck than anything the competition is currently offering.
With exception to 3D/gaming benchmarks such as Quake III and 3DMark 2001, Athlon beats Pentium 4 at virtually any task. Additionally, Athlon-based PCs costs less. You can find fast, fully configured 1GHz Athlon-based PCs priced at less than $1,000, or you can spend much in excess of $2,000 on one that will virtually breathe fire.

Intel Celeron
 
What to expect: A cheap and zippy CPU with some limitations but powerful enough for most home and small-business users.
Aimed at the budget market, Intel's low-cost Celeron excels at basic business applications, e-mail, and the Internet. However, it lags in multimedia and 3D-based benchmarks. Celerons are currently available at speeds up to 800MHz, and slower speeds show up in PCs as cheap as $399. Budget-minded users who are interested in multimedia applications and 3D games should spend a little more and get a Pentium III- or Athlon-based PC

AMD Duron
 
What to expect:
Snappy performance for a reasonable price.
AMD's low-cost Duron outperforms Celeron, but these zippy chips aren't widely offered; Athlon models running at the same speed cost just a few dollars more and perform much better (for example, the 850MHz Duron goes $86, while 850MHz Athlon costs $97).

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