Oftentimes budget is equated with "slow" in the computer world. However, this trend couldn't be further from the truth. Budget processors can very well provide enough computing power for a very decent budget gaming computer. Budget processors also make ideal home theater PCs and home servers given their price and relative horsepower for what they are intended to do. Therefore, budget processors are great for those who either are on a tight budget or require a processor that is "good enough" but also carries some weight in its processing power for its price. A good price for a budget processor lies around $100 and this list is populated with such processors.
Intel's new Core i3 lineup of processors further develops upon Intel's attempts to "simplify" the PC platform. Much like the Core i5 eliminated the need for a Northbridge, the Core i3 acts as a “system on a chip”, eliminating the need for integrated video on the motherboard and allowing for a much smaller and compact profile. This makes the i3 ideal for those looking to build HTPCs or small office computers with a bit of multithreaded processing power. The Core i3 530 is a dual core 32nm processor with HyperThreading for four logical cores and quite powerful given its $120 price range. Its TDP is also low at 73W, making it quite efficient in a MHz-per-watt standpoint for those that wish to build a power sipping computer. However, the Core i3 necessitates the use of socket LGA 1156, and motherboards with this socket tend to be pricier than equivalent AM3 or LGA 775 motherboards that have been out in the marketplace for many months. Despite this, the Core i3 represents high performance and good value, especially with coupled with a value-priced motherboard and the option to use the chip’s video processor rather than a dedicated or onboard video card.
No comments:
Post a Comment