A computer's processor or central processing Unit (CPU) is the engine that powers the
device. The speed of the processor is called the clock speed which measures how fast
the processor can carry out instructions. Speed is measured in MegaHertz (MHz) and is
one measure of a computer's power.
A typical home office Windows PC should have at minimum a 500 MHz processor. A power
user would probably prefer 800 MHz or higher. If you know your computing needs are
modest, and you want to save some money, an older machine with a slower processor is
worth considering. When looking at an Apple Macintosh, keep in mind that you can't
simply compare processor speeds with Windows machines, as the two types of computers
have different system designs. Macs generally have lower processor speeds in MHz but
don't let that fool you. Newer Macs like the iMac can definitely keep pace with PCs.
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