Budget CPUs: Less Than $100
Both AMD and Intel offer entry-level processors that cost less than $100, yet deliver dual-core functionality and performance adequate for modest use.
Intel has introduced the Pentium Dual-Core E2100 series, which starts at around $90. Despite the Pentium name, these new chips are actually based on the same design as the Core 2 Duo. These new CPUs run on an 800MHz bus at 1.6GHz (E2140) and 1.8GHz (E2160) speeds, and fit into an LGA775 socket.
The Pentium Dual-Core series is almost identical to the Core 2 Duo E4000 series, except the chips contain only 1MB of shared L2 cache. For some digital media applications and games, the smaller cache will yield noticeably slower performance. But even the slower processor is powerful enough to run most recent games at moderate resolutions, making the Pentium Dual-Core an excellent choice for budget systems, at about half the cost of midrange Core 2 Duo processors.
Given that their prices start at under $60, AMD's entry-level Athlon X2 CPUs can be a great deal. If you're really strapped for cash, consider the AMD Sempron 64, which supports AMD64 instructions like the Athlon X2 does, but has only a single core. With street prices under $30 for entry-level Semprons, they're worth considering if every penny matters. Most users, however, would probably benefit from investing a few more bucks in an Athlon X2.
AMD is also touting specialized energy-efficient Athlon X2 chips, such as the new Athlon X2 BE-2350 ($91) and the BE-2300 ($86) that fall into the budget category. The 2.1GHz BE-2350 is comparable in performance to an Athlon X2 4400+, but it's rated at 45 watts of power usage, compared to 89 watts for the standard Athlon X2 4400+. The lower wattage won't save you much on your home electricity bill, but it will result in a cooler-running chip, which helps reduce heat and fan noise in home theater PCs.
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