Okay, so it's been asked so many times, and answered just as many. But until the sun stops rising, it will always be a question that is ever changing in responses. So, here we are toward the end of 2012, and we find many diverse technologies available to mainstream public for general use. Maybe it's time to get an update on what is really good. Today, we will try to break down exactly the main differences in the computers available to you.

First and foremost, we are sure you have heard of Intel and AMD. You might have also seen that AMD tends to be less expensive then the Intel counterpart. You might have even heard how Intel is in upwards of 80% or more of desktop and laptop computers today. So, why would anyone still use AMD when Intel is so obviously better? The short answer is, they are not "better" or "worse" then Intel. Hopefully today we can explain just why.

The first obvious difference between processors is price. As we said before, AMD processors tend to be less expensive. This is due in large part to the fact that Intel was the first major brand for desktop processors. While Intel focused on speed, AMD focused on actual operation. Back when the two companies were neck and neck, an AMD processor could be running at 1.66GHz and provide the same results as Intel running at 1.8GHz. So for a while, AMD was actually a serious competitor to Intel.

It all fell apart when stronger commercial success allowed Intel to excel and leave AMD behind. Typically, AMD processors run at exactly half the cost of Intel processors. The advantage is, an average user can get equivalent performance out of their computer for half the cost. Unfortunately, brand loyalty gathers people into the higher priced Intel processors. AMD has compensated by offering more with their processors. Onboard video from their ATI acquisition in July 2006, multiple cores (think 3, 4, 6, and even 8 core), and Intel focused on speed.

What does this mean for you? You can get a great system with multiple cores. Performance is adequate, without costing a fortune. Our personal recommendation is to use AMD unless you absolutely need mission critical performance. You really can't go wrong.

Hope this gives you some answers to questions, and as always, feel free to leave some feedback either on Twitter or Facebook if you have questions.