Which Processor?

nut:

You don't mention your budget. I'd go with the 2.33 GHz. It has 2x the cache and should run/open applications faster because of it. I'm currently configuring both a desktop and a laptop using processors with the 4Mb cache. These are the newer CPUs.

 

My opinion anyway.

 

Good luck.

it also depends on how much memory you are putting in the computer. no need to select

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E6550 (4MB L2 Cache, 2.33 GHz, 1333 FSB)

if you are only doing a gig of RAM.

Good point. I won't even look at a computer without 2Gb of RAM in it. RAM's cheap.

 

Often ( especially in laptops ) people will order 1Gb or RAM with the thought of ordering another 1GB later on, only to find out that the laptop came with 2x512Mb = 1Gb. Since most laptops only have 2 memory slots, you're stuck "throwing-away" ( or selling on E-Bay ) the 2 512Mb memory sticks so you can replace them with 2 1Gb sticks for your 2 Gb of RAM. This doesn't always apply to desktops - they all pretty much have at least 4 memory slots.

I would also have to say the 2.3 ghz.  It was 2 times the cache (which even if you don't have more than a gig of memory on your puter will help), and it also has the fastest front side bus which is how fast the processor can communicate with the rest of the machine.  The faster the better normally.  And this guy would be able to keep up with that faster speed.