Processors

Buying guide

Choosing a processor starts with the motherboard, not the other way round: the socket and chipset have to match, or you simply won't be able to fit it. Core count and clock speed decide different things – in games the clock speed is often more noticeable, while rendering and compiling benefit from more cores. Check whether it has integrated graphics: if not, the system won't start without a separate graphics card. A cooler isn't always included, and when it is, it often isn't enough under heavy load.