Guide: Which processor should you buy?

It's Fall in the northern hemisphere, which means the major component manufacturers are readying new product releases, refreshing old products as everyone seems to be getting ready for Christmas.

This means that any upgrade planning becomes a delicate balancing act. Do you wait for new components to be released, and go after those? If history is any guide, sellers will charge a premium for the latest hardware, so your wallet may suffer the consequences. On the other hand, if you buy current generation gear, you may end up with something that's poorly supported or underperforming in just a few months.