My current Windows PC is playing up, so I've decided to replace it. I use it for word processing, email and Perl programming. After I made enquiries, I kept getting asked do I want AMD dual core or a Pentium IV? The former has a lower clock speed than the latter, but from what I understand clock speed is no longer the final arbiter of CPU performance.

How do I compare the two? Can Perl take specific advantage of the dual core CPU? Speed is important, as some of my Perl code is CPU intensive.

My Linux box is identical to my Windows one, and I'll look at upgrading in the near future, but as it's still running fine the urgency isn't there, but I'll have the same questions regarding Perl performance under Linux too

In reply to Slightly OT: Getting a new PC by Anonymous Monk

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