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Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008 
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Choosing a powerful laptop processor
A powerful processor can make a difference. You're going to run across two processor manufacturers, Intel and AMD. And each manufacturer makes several processors. Comparing processors AMD's Turion 64 X2 and Turion 64 X2 Ultra are 64-bit dual-core processors. Dual-core essentially means the chip has two processors. A dual-core 64-bit chip theoretically can handle four times as much data as a standard 32-bit chip. Intel also has two 64-bit dual-core laptop processors. They are the Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme. There is also a very high-end Core 2 Extreme Quad. It has four cores. And you may need a loan to get it. Most laptops you'll find will have a 64-bit version of Windows Vista. You'll need that to take full advantage of a 64-bit processor. There's an important fact to remember about processors. They are far ahead of software. Most people hardly stress their chip. They just don't need the highest-end chips. However, people who play cutting edge games may need that power. The same goes for those who edit a lot of video. Intel Core 2 Duo chips have 2 to 6 megabytes of L2 cache. The L2 cache is where the processor stores data transferred from RAM. The cache can be accessed faster than RAM. The larger the cache, the better. The Core 2 Duo has clock speeds of between 2.33 and 3.33 gigahertz. Clock speed refers to how fast a processor performs calculations. Manufacturers used to highlight clock speeds when marketing processors. They hit a wall at about 4 GHz, and focused on multiple cores. The Core 2 Extreme has 4 MB of L2 cache. And it has a single clock speed of 2.93 GHz. The Core 2 Extreme Quad has up to 12 MB of L2 cache. Clock speeds rank between 2.66 GHz and 3.2 GHz. But this chip is only found in very high-end gaming and multimedia laptops. AMD The Turion 64 X2 has an L2 cache of 1 MB. And you'll find clock speeds of 1.6 GHz to 2.4 GHz. The Turion 64 X2 Ultra is a more robust chip. It has an L2 cache of 2 MB. And clock speeds range from 2.1 to 2.4 GHz. Don't buy too much chip Going by specs alone, Intel offers more advanced processors. But both will run your computer very well. Any of the available processors will satisfy most users. And remember, the processor is only one component to consider. Because of the economy, many people will be looking for bargains. I have a buying guide on inexpensive laptops. But some may be looking for a more capable laptop. Another buying guide will steer them in the right direction. More mobile tips:
• Extend battery life with monitoring software • Secure your laptop before going online KEEP YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS UP-TO-DATE  Every day, Team Komando produces some of the best content you'll find anywhere on the Internet. Here is a sampling of what's new on our site today! • Over $80,000 In Prizes!: Learn to speak Spanish with today's Great Giveaway prize! Rosetta Stone Spanish Language Software ($219 value) makes it easy! Head over to giveaway.komando.com and enter online today! Enter daily to increase your chances of winning. We have daily prizes and grand prizes to give away! The next winner could be you! • Video of the Day: Gambling is always a risky venture. But some people aren't happy playing fair. The cheaters' latest cash cow is online poker. • Cool Site of the Day: Things have been really hairy lately in the stock market. So, maybe you can get a better grip on things at today's site. • Digital Minute, on your radio: It's small and convenient. It fits in your pocket. And your company will probably ban it during the coming year. • Free Download of the Day: Losing weight is something we all struggle with from time to time. Maybe you need a little extra help to get it done. • Tip on the site: Vista's CD burner formats with Live File System. Many computers cannot read it. Avoid this problem by using Mastered format. Kim :) 
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I want to get a new laptop. But I'm not sure what I need. I'm especially confused by the processors. How do I select a processor?
Looking for a new computer is always exciting. But all those numbers and specifications can be overwhelming. And making sense of processors leaves many people feeling dazed. 
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