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Intel, AMD & ARM Processors

An overview of notebook and desktop processors offered by Intel and AMD, brief coverage given to ARM whose processors are found
in tablets and smartphones.

I. Purpose/Overview
II. Why Does The Processor Matter
III. Companies
i. Intel
ii. AMD
iii. ARM
IV. Product Comparison Tables
V. Benchmarks
VI. Notable Features Demystified
VII. FAQ
VIII. Useful Links

I. Purpose/Overview
The purpose of this document is to demystify the role that the processor plays in popular consumer electronics, especially laptops
and desktop computing systems. Further, this document offers a breakdown of the current state of the processor market—particularly,
highlighting the companies, Intel and AMD and how their current product lines size up against each other. Though the emphasis of
this document is desktop computing, the spike in relavance of the smartphone and tablet makes mention of mobile processors useful,
hence, ARM—a leader in mobile processing is profiled as well. Also provided is a chart that classfies these processors for the
purposes of helping you decide on a system appropriate for your needs. Finally, we provide a section dedicated to demystifying some
of the technical/marketing jargon that is tossed around as companies introduce new product lines.

II. Why Does The Processor Matter

The microprocessor—or commonly, the CPU or just processor—is the brain of a computer. It performs many calculations behind the
scenes, ultimately allowing you to complete tasks as trivial as composing an e-mail to tasks as intensive as data analysis and
modeling. Processors are encountered in many forms of consumer electronics. Most familar to many are notebook and desktop
computers as well as mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Though the processor is just one of the many physical
components that comprise these products, it is arguably the most central to determining their overall "usefulness" into the future as
software requirements become increasingly demanding.

Unlike other components of a notebook computer, the processor is a fixed component. This is in contrast to RAM and hard disk
storage which can be upgraded in many cases. Therefore, another consideration is the fact that the CPU you choose will be the
same throughout the life of the system. This implies that as applications and operating systems become more sophisticated, the
computer's ability to handle them will be directly affected by the purchase decision made all that time ago. This choice may mean the
difference between a system that is useful for another year or two versus one that is not. A final consideration in choosing a CPU is
the suggested or minimum requirements of the important software to be used as well as any academic department recommendations
as a guide as to the relative kind of computing performance expected for a particular field of study.

III. Companies
i.

If there was a single semiconductor chip maker the average consumer is aware of it would likely be Intel. If not for the famous Intel
"chime" as heard in many television commercials throughout the years then definitely for the fact that it would be difficult not to
encounter its technologies in some form whether at work, school or otherwise. Intel is the premier chip maker for personal computers

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—companies such as Apple, Dell, HP, Samsung, Sony have product lines that depend on the processors that Intel produces. Intel's
processors generally offer the best performance for all-around usage. This has been especially the case the last several years with
the introduction and evolution of Intel's Core series product line. Currently, Intel's flagship consumer product line consists of mobile
and desktop-grade Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 processors now in their second generation (dubbed "Sandy Bridge"). The third and
latest generation of these processors (dubbed "Ivy Bridge") began to roll out for release late April 2012. The biggest difference
between these two generations amounts to a moderate improvement in all-around computing performance but a substantial
improvement in integrated graphics performance. Another significant feature Ivy Bridge adds is native USB 3.0 support, overtaking
USB 2.0.

ii.

Though not considered the behemoth in the personal computing space as Intel, AMD is a decisive runner-up—and arguably the only
true competitor Intel has in this domain. After spending much of the early to middle 2000's as being the performance and value leader
with their Athlon 64 line of personal computing processors, AMD—unable to mimic this success in more recent years, has shifted
their focus towards both enthusiast and budget-oriented system configurations. As a result, AMD is considered to be a viable
alternative to Intel. Their current offerings are flanked by the Phenom series processors and Fusion APU processors. The Fusion
APU (AMD A-Series) is a relatively new platform (as of 2011 and ongoing) that attempts to merge high-end graphical capabilities on
the same chip as the processor. This means if your work or play requires a powerful graphics card, then AMD can potentially offer a
cost effective alternative.

iii.

The increased need for mobile productivity and entertainment has given rise to a relatively new class of devices: smartphones and
tablets. ARM is well-known for the design of mobile, power-efficient processor designs. In recent years it has seen its technology
used in the products of many prominent electronics companies. Apple's A4/A5/A5X, Nvidia's Tegra, Samsung's Exynos and Texas
Instruments' OMAP products all integrate ARM processors into what is known as a system-on-a-chip (SoC). SoCs merge many of the
essential components of a computer (such as the CPU, RAM, ROM etc.) on a single chip which allows devices that utilize them to be
lightweight and compact. These SoCs have gone on to be implemented in blockbuster products such as Apple's iPhone and iPad or
Samsung's series of Galaxy phones. ARM's presence as the CPU and architecture of choice on many mobile devices cannot be
understated as estimates put their numbers in the billions.

IV. Processor Comparison Table

This section offers a breakdown and comparison of the different product lines within Intel's/AMD's offerings. The processors are
divided by the companies making the processors (Intel and AMD) then within those companies, a general ranking and purpose is
offered for the kinds of processors each is offering. That is, some will be far better suited for doing advanced tasks such as
data/statistical analysis, modelling, and mulltimedia creation where at the other extreme (toward the bottom of the Intel and AMD
charts below), these products will not be able to handle much more than web browsing and e-mail. In between those extremes are
processors that can usually handle a little bit from the top and bottom ends of the spectrum. The kind of performance implied by these
processors is typically enough and recommended for most users; e.g. the Core i3 or i5 processors on the Intel side or the Phenom II
or A-series from AMD's offerings.

Intel Comparison Table

Last
Number Additional
Generation Notable
Recommended For of Product Product Commentary
Released Features
Cores Information
(Codename)

Core i7 Enthusiasts, Superior The Intel Core i7 represents the

(1) Hyper-
All-Around Performance, 2012 ("Ivy company's most feature robust
Multi-tasking, 2 or 4 Threading processor offering. They are Intel's
Bridge") and Intel
(2) Turbo Boost
Multimedia Creation, upcoming flagship series of processor, achieving
Advanced Productivity (3) QuickPath the greatest levels of relative

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performance. As an excellent all-around

InterConnect
processor, the i7 is ideal for
(4) Tri-Gate (3D) enthusiasts, gamers, power users and
Transistors
and Advanced 3D content creators alike. They are
Graphics (5) Intel HD available for both desktop and notebook
Graphics
platforms. The current generation of i7
(6) 64-bit (as well as i3 and i5) processors is Ivy
Bridge as of Mid-2012.

(1) Hyper- The Intel Core i5 is a class of high-

Threading (on i5 performance processor just a notch
Mobile Dual- beneath the i7. Though they generally
Core only, not possess same features as the i7 with
Core i5 available on some exceptions (see Features), they
Quad-Core have less cache (L3) memory which
All-Around Performance,
2012 ("Ivy desktop version) amounts to similar, but lesser all-
Multi-tasking, Advanced
Bridge") and 2 or 4 (2) Turbo Boost Intel around performance. Like the i7 and i3,
Producivity, Multimedia,
upcoming (3) QuickPath the i5 features Intel's high performance
Advanced 3D Graphics
InterConnect integrated graphics in the HD
(4) Tri-Gate (3D) 3000/4000. Most users will find the
Transistors general level of perfomance offered by
(5) Intel HD the i5 to be an attractive option
Graphics compared to a more expensive i7-
(6) 64-bit equipped system.

(1) Hyper- The Intel Core i3 processor is the

Core i3 Threading closest successor to the now out-of-
(2) QuickPath production Core2Duo processor. The
Productivity, Multi- 2012 ("Ivy InterConnect most significant differences between
tasking, Basic Graphics, Bridge") and 2 or 4 (3) Tri-Gate (3D) Intel the i3 and i5/i7 is the lack of Turbo
Multimedia upcoming Transistors Boost and less cache (L3) memory.
(4) Intel HD The i3 offers moderate all-around
Graphics 3000 performance and is often found in
(5) 64-bit budget-oriented systems.

The Intel Pentium as a product line had

built a strong reputation with
consumers in the 90's through the early
Pentium 2000s with the Pentium I/II/III/4 series.
(Post-2009) Hyper- Formerly a flagship line of processor,
Threading the Pentium is currently in production
Productivity, E-mail, and
2011 ("Sandy (however, most as a budget-oriented option just above
Web Browsing, Photos 2 Intel
Bridge") currently do not the Celeron in terms of relative
and Music
support this performance. The most recent iteration
feature) of the Pentium takes some architectural
cues from the Core i series with the
2011 Pentium based on the Sandy
Bridge, offering performance suitable
for most basic tasks.

Throughout its many iterations, the Intel

Celeron has occupied the lower end of
Celeron the processor market in terms of both
(Post-2010) price and performance. Updates to the
Celeron based on current generation
Productivity, E-mail, and
2011 ("Sandy architecture have been made to keep
Web Browsing, Photos 2 64-bit Intel
Bridge") the processor relevant. The
and Music
improvements are enough such that
they allow for running current
productivity packages and web
applications. They are best considered

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for an entry-level system.

The Intel Atom belongs almost

exclusively to a class of personal
computers known as netbooks (nettops
and tablets are the lesser common
Atom instances). The Atom is focused not so
much on performance as it is on
Basic Productivity, 2012 ("Cedar (1) Hyper- reducing power consumption. As a
E-mail, and Web Trail") and 1 or 2 Threading Intel result, many netbooks offer excellent
Browsing upcoming (2) 64-bit battery life at the cost of being unable to
run more sophisticated applications
beyond web browsing and word
processing. Generally speaking,
netbook processors such as the Atom
do not see substantial performance
gains with subsequent generations.

Retiring/Retired
Product Lines

Though the Core 2 Duo and Core 2

Quad processors are still in production,
the platform has been succeeded by
Multi-tasking, Intel the Core i Series since late 2008.
Core 2 Duo &
Productivity and 2008 2 or 4 64-Bit - Core 2 Duo Despite this, these processors are still
Core 2 Quad
Multimedia - Core 2 Quad very servicable providing adequete
levels of performance for multitasking to
varying levels of multimedia creation
and productivity applications.

The Core Duo/Duo Centrino

processors preceeded both the Core2
Core Solo/Core
Basic Productivity, and Core i series of processor.
Duo/Centrino &
E-mail, and Web 2006 1 or 2 32-bit N/A Generally do not recommend running
Celeron
Browsing current software for optimal use;
(Pre-2010)
consideration of an upgrade path is
recommended soon.

An upgrade path is highly

Pentium 4:
recommended; Usefulness is relagated
mostly 32-bit
Pentium III & Legacy software and Late 90s/Early to doing basic tasks such as running
1 later versions N/A
Pentium 4 operating system 2000s older versions of Microsoft Office or
64-bit, w/Hyper-
browsing webpages absent of the latest
Threading
media or plugins such as Flash or Java.

AMD Comparison Table

Last
Number Additional
Generation Notable
Recommended For of Product Product Commentary
Released Features
Cores Information
(Codename)

(1) HyperTransport Available exclusively on desktop

(2) Integrated platforms, AMD FX targets custom
DRAM Controller builders and enthusiasts. This is a
FX with AMD Memory processor that far surpasses the
Optimizer (1) AMD needs of the average user. However,
Desktop Enthusiasts, 2012
(2) AMD Turbo (2) given the amount of performance it
All-Around High ("Bulldozer") and 4, 6, 8
CORE Architectural provides combined with the relative
Performance upcoming
(3) AMD Features low cost, it becomes an attractive
Virtualization option for budget custom PC builds.
(4) AMD The FX along with the A-Series,
PowerNow! represent AMD's current flagship

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products and later releases within

(Cool'n'Quiet)
these product lines are planned.

The AMD A-Series (AMD Fusion) are

a type of chip that merges the CPU
with a high-performance GPU
(graphics processing unit) resulting
in a versatile system that is very
power efficient. They are available in
A4: Basic desktops, laptops and most recently,
A-Series All-Around ultrabooks. Where the A4 APU is
(Fusion) Use/Productivity, found in less expensive, entry level
Casual Gaming A4: 2 (1) AMD systems, the A6 and A8 are more
2012 ("Trinity") DirectX 11 Capable
(2) Notebook suited for all-around use w/advanced
and upcoming Graphics
A6, A8: All-Around A6, A8: 4 Features graphics applications (such as
Performance, gaming or 3D modeling). In May
Multimedia, Advanced 2012, AMD released the next
3D Graphics generation of Fusion A-Series
processors known as "Trinity", these
processors promise much greater
graphical and general purpose
performance. AMD has aligned
Trinity as an answer to Intel's Ivy
Bridge.

The AMD Phenom II is primarily a

class of high-performance desktop
(1)
processor.In 2010, AMD claimed to
HyperTransport™
be the first in the industry to offer a
(2) Integrated
Phenom II consumer class six-core processor
DRAM Controller
though the X6. Mobile variants of the
with AMD Memory (1) AMD
Advanced Productivity, Phenom II were introduced as well,
Optimizer (2) Key
HD Video, 3D Graphics, 2010 2, 3, 4, 6 but not in the six-core flavor. Though
(3) AMD Turbo Architectural
Photos and Music new generations of this product line
CORE Features
are no longer in the works, this line of
(4) AMD
processor is still sold as a low-cost,
PowerNow!
budget-oriented option for custom
(Cool'n'Quiet)
system builds. The performance of
(5) AMD CoolCore!
this processor is more than enough
for everyday usage and productivity.

The Athlon II is a relatively recent

processor taking design cues from
Athlon II the Phenom II. Unlike the Athlon
(1) AMD
Classic, is still in production and far
Virtualization (1) AMD
Basic Multi-tasking, more suited to current productivity
2011 and (2) AMD (2) Key
Productivity and 2, 3, 4 applications such as Microsoft Office
upcoming PowerNow! Architectural
Multimedia Applications as well as multitasking and
(Cool'n'Quiet) Features
multimedia applcations. It is found in
(3) AMD CoolCore!
both laptops and desktops as a
reasonably-powered, cost-effective
option.

The Turion II is a processor based

from the same architecture in the
Turion II Phenom II and Athlon II. It was
introduced as a competitor to Intel's
Productivity, Photos, (1) HyperTransport Core 2 Duo. As a result, its
2010 1 or 2 AMD
and Music (2) 64-bit performance should be very suitable
for productivity software. They
designed with power efficiency in
mind and is found primarily in
notebook configurations.

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The Sempron is the AMD analogue

Sempron to the Intel Celeron. It offers very
basic levels of performance and is
Basic Productivity,
(1) HyperTransport updated every so often so as to offer
E-mail, and Web 2010 1 or 2 AMD
(2) 64-bit an inexpensive option capable of
Browsing
running recent versions of
productivity software such as Office
2010 as well as web applications.

Retiring/Retired
Product Lines

The AMD Phenom processor

preceded the Phenon II. Though the
(1) HyperTransport
processor is no longer in production,
(2) AMD
Phenom Multi-tasking, HD it is generally considered lower-
2008 2, 3, 4 PowerNow! AMD
Video, Basic Graphics middle range in performance;
(Cool'n'Quiet)
suitable for multi-tasking and more
(3) AMD CoolCore!
than casual use. The Phenom was
available only for desktop platforms.

Formerly known as just the Athlon,

the Athlon Classic has not been in
production since 2005. The kind of
performance is extremely limited for
today's applications and is
Not In production
Athlon (Classic) Web Browsing, E-mail 1 or 2 32-bit or 64-bit N/A recommended for only the most
(1999-2005)
basic of uses. Generally, a complete
system upgrade from this processor
range would be advisable if your
needs fall beyond web browsing and
e-mail tasks.

Companies Utilizing ARM Architecture

Type of Additional
Number
System-On-a-Chip (SoC) Notable Product(s) Containing ARM Product
of Cores
Processor Information

iPhone 4, iPod Touch (4th Gen), iPad (1st Gen),

A4 Cortex-A8 1
AppleTV (2nd Gen)
Apple Apple
A5 iPhone 4S, iPad 2, AppleTV (3rd Gen) Cortex-A9 2

A5X iPad (3rd Gen, Retina Display) Cortex-A9 2

Exynos 3 Single Samsung Galaxy S, Samsung Galaxy Nexus S, Cortex-A8 1

Samsung Galaxy SII, Samsung Galaxy Note

Samsung Exynos 4 Dual Cortex-A9 2 Samsung
(International)

Exynos 4 Quad Samsung Galaxy SIII Cortex-A9 4

Exynos 5 Dual N/A Cortex-A15 2

Tegra Microsoft Zune HD ARM11 1

ASUS Eee Pad Transformer, Samsung Galaxy Tab

Nvidia Tegra 2 10.1, Motorola Xoom, Dell Streak 7 & Pro, Sony Cortex-A9 2 Nvidia
Tablet S

ASUS Transformer Pad 300, ASUS Nexus 7, Acer

Tegra 3 Cortex-A9 4
Iconia Tab A510 & A700, HTC One X

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Snapdragon S2 Nokia Lumia 900 N/A 1

Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 Galaxy Note LTE (AT&T), HP TouchPad N/A 2 Qualcomm

Snapdragon S4 Samsung Galaxy SIII LTE, HTC EVO 4G LTE N/A 2 or 4

OMAP 3 Barnes and Noble Nook Color Cortex-A8 1

Amazon Kindle Fire, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2,

Texas Texas
OMAP 4 Blackberry Playbook, Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Cortex-A9 2
Instruments Instruments
Barnes and Noble Nook Tablet

OMAP 5 N/A Cortex-A15 2

V. Benchmarks
It is important to note that there are a considerable amount of details that factor into the overall performance of any given processor
beyond frequency (GHz). This is not a valid way to compare most processors, especially between competing companies and
between generations. For example, an Intel Pentium 4 (a processor that is generations behind any current Intel i-series processor)
running at 3.8 GHz is much slower compared than any i3, i5 or i7 running at lower GHz—the biggest reason for this is the
improvement in architecture allowing for increases in the number of cores as well as improvements in other features (such as cache
memory and bus technology) that allow the modern CPU to get more work done in a given clock cycle. Hence, it is more useful to
compare frequencies and number of cores of processors across the same product line.

CPU benchmarking involves running a specific software tool or suite of tools which allow users to 'distill' an overall performance rating
that can be used to rank against other processors. Computer hardware websites such as those listed below have aggregated
rankings for all major desktop/notebook processors released within the last decade, allowing a prospective buyer to get a feel for the
relative level of performance separating one processor from another. Further, these benchmarks when considered in tandem with the
cost of a given processor also allow buyers to compare value as far as amount of performance per dollar. This is important since CPU
performance does not necessarily correlate with price, especially across different makers.

The following links below provide comprehensive rankings for desktop and mobile processors.

Benchmark Links:

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/

Desktop CPU Benchmarks:

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/desktop-cpu-charts-q3-2008/benchmarks,31.html

Mobile CPU Benchmarks:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Processors-Benchmarklist.2436.0.html

VI. Notable Features Demystified

In this section, we breakdown the practical meaning of some notable technical features included in the various processors available.
The vast majority of these features pertain to how a given processor is able to attain a performance boost over either its competitors
or previous generations of products.

Feature Explanation Processors Using Feature

Intel Features

Improves the performance by allowing the operating system to improve its

ability to 'multitask' processes more intelligently. One physically present core is
Hyper-Threading (HT) treated as two logical cores which share workloads between each other. Core i7, Core i5, Core i3, Atom
Hence, a dual-core with HT has 4 logical cores and a quad-core has 8 logical
cores.

Allows the processor to intelligently and dynamically overclock a core(s) such

that thermal/power constraints are not violated. For example, a dual core Core i7, Core i5 (Mobile Dual-Cores
Turbo Boost
processor with Turbo Boost can overclock one core to much higher only)

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frequencies while decreasing speed of the other core; in some situations this
can improve performance.

An Intel technology which replaced Front Side Bus (FSB) -- similar in purpose Implemented in some fashion across
QuickPath Interconnect (QPI)
to AMD's competing HyperTransport technology. all Intel core iX series

A new fabrication technology implemented for mass production for the first time
in 2012 with Ivy Bridge. Essentially, increases the surface area of each
Tri-Gate (3D) Transistor Ivy Bridge (2012) iX series
transistor on the chip while also reducing power leakage which on the whole
significantly decreases power consumption and improves performance.

Synchronizes remote desktop, security, and other multi-station support

vPro Current Intel processors
features. Decreases desk-side maintenance visits.

Prevents certain viruses from infecting the system by labeling some data
Execute Disable Bit Current Intel processors
"executable."

AMD Features

A feature that helps minimize the number of buses in a system. This can
HyperTransport reduce system 'bottlenecks' and allow microprocessors to use system All current AMD processors
memory more efficiently.

Phenom I & II, Athlon, Sempron (with

Cool'n'Quiet Reduces heat and noise of processors allowing for increased energy efficiency.
exceptions)

Turbo Core allows for contextual overclocking of the processor to optimize

Turbo Core Phenom II X6, Trinity APUs
performance subject to electrical and thermal requirements/specifications.

Limits unused elements of the processor such that power is conserved --

CoolCore Phenom I & II, Turion
allows for increased notebook battery life on a single charge.

VII. FAQ

Q: What is the difference between a 32-bit and 64-bit processor?

A : From a practical standpoint, the true difference at hand is the ability to run a 32-bit operating system (OS) versus a 64-bit OS and
their subsequent applications. Technically, 64-bit allows the processor to address larger chunks of data from physical memory (RAM)
than their 32-bit counterparts. Hence, while the maximum amount of RAM for a 32-bit system is 4GB, for a 64-bit system there is no
practical limit except where artificially imposed by a specific version of an OS or system manufacturer—for example, Windows 7
Home Edition allows for up to 16GB of RAM where Professional and Ultimate allows up to 192GB. The benefit of 64-bit arises in
dealing with the increasing sophistication of applications as well as working with and processing large files with greater efficiency.
Most modern CPUs such as any of Intel's iX series are 64-bit and virtually any new configuration of a machine with these processors
include a 64-bit OS. It is important to note that while 64-bit CPUs can typically run 32-bit applications, the reverse is not true.

Q: What is the relationship between a processor and RAM? Why and when can a RAM upgrade make my
system run faster?

A : Where the CPU acts as the brains of a computer, processing your input into output, Random Access Memory (RAM) can be
considered an analogue to working memory. It is a fast type of volatile memory that the system uses to help process data. When the
amount of RAM is overwhelmed by various processes on the system—which can happen if a user had begun using a more
sophisticated OS with only the minimum amount of recommended RAM or if many applications are running at once—The os is forced
into using the same ram for multiple purposes, swapping data in and out of ram from the hard drive, which slows the system down.
Swapping data from the storage device will result in slower performance The CPU may be fast but it can process data only as quickly
as the RAM can dispense it. In essence, a lack of sufficient RAM can lead to a system being 'bottlenecked'. Upgrading RAM can help
ensure that the system is running on as little if any virtual memory as possible, this makes the machine more responsive especially
when multi-tasking across several applications. Hence, the value of RAM is in its ability to ensure that the CPU is able to pull data as
seamlessly as possible. If the current amount of RAM in a system is 'enough', adding more RAM will not serve to speed up the
system any further. At this point, the system runs as fast as the CPU is capable of and depending on the needs of the user, a
processor upgrade might be considered.

VIII. Useful Links

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(1) Tom's Hardware (http://www.tomshardware.com/)

Tom's Hardware is among the web's premiere resources for news, commentary, reviews and price comparisons of computer
hardware and peripherals.

(2) Anandtech (http://www.anandtech.com/)

Anandtech is another excellent online magazine that specializes in providing articles and in-depth reviews for computers hardware
and consumer electronics.

(3) MacRumors Buyer's Guide (http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/)

The MacRumors Buyer's Guide offers an excellent means of staying on top of Apple updates to their product lines such as the
MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and iMac. As processor updates are typically among the most significant changes accompanying an
update, this guide will help you time your purchases 'strategically' so that you get the most processing power (and features) for your
dollar.

Owner: Ryan H. Group: DoIT Tech Store

Created: 2006-08-17 19:00 CDT Updated: 2017-01-31 13:03 CDT

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