Noob help on CPU differences

[kilous]

Ok, not very smart on computers so here we go.

I want to know how to tell what a good ( fast ) cpu is.
I know the FBS matters but not exactly.

I don't get the L1 cache or the L2 cache. is it the higher the better?

mainly i just want to know why the
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4 GHz 4M shared L2 Cache FSB 1066MHz
is better than the
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+(65W) Windsor 2.4GHz 2x512KB L2Cache FSB 2000

Please excuse my lameness!

[Marcin]

C2D E6600 is much better in stock speed. Additional it have much better OC potential.

[Hippo]

[Mixeur]

There is no way to know how to tell what a good ( fast ) cpu is. It is not shown in its specs. Just review tests on the web and you will know.

[FDIV]

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/03/26/the_gigahertz_battle/index.html

Within a class of cpu's like say Athlon 64 x2's gigahertz and cache is comparable. For instance a 2.4 ghz with 1meg l2 is faster than a 2.0 ghz with the same l2. But once you start comparing more than one class (P4 vs core 2 duo), socket (ie 939 vs AM2), or brand (Intel vs AMD) things get impossible to compare from specs alone. It is like Hippo said the cpu is designed differently. Inside it is like a V8 Ford truck engine vs a V8 Ferrari, they both have 8 cylinders and run off gas but it is not the same thing. Fortunately sites like the one above (toms hardware) exist to compare the speeds of the processors and are free to use. Perhaps the most interesting thing you will note with comparisons is that depending on the benchmarks the chips stack up differently. It is analogous to the Ford being very good at pulling a trailer full of manure but having lousy zero to 60 pick up. The last thing I would like to note is that I make it a point myself to buy AMD whenever the choice is close. The way I figure it is that if AMD ever goes out of business Intel will have a pure monopoly. Prices would skyrocket and innovation would all but cease. For what it is worth AMD usually delivers a better product for your dollar anyway.