celeron better or pentium ?

I have an HP Pavilion XT878 with a 1.3 GHz AMD Athlon processor and 256 MB DDR SDRAM and Windows ME. I took a lot of my programs running in the background off so my systems resources are 86% with no programs open. However, when I opened WordPerfect and printed a document and went to open up another file my system froze. I also notice if I have several web pages open my system freezes or I get an error message with a blue screen giving me a choice of clicking enter or clicking control-alt-delete, but neither of those choices work.
I wrote HP Tech Support and they told me "For multitasking it is best to have dual processors, though it depends on what programs you are running on your system."
So, I am a little confused. Is my processor not that good for multi-tasking? Would two processors make a difference? If so, what would be a good second processor?
How does the Intel 4 1.7GHz compare for multi-tasking? What is the best processor for multi-tasking?
It appears that HP Tech Support either misunderstood your question, or misunderstood the difference between multitasking(having your computer juggle two or more tasks at once) and multiprocessing (having your computer divide its tasks between two or more processors). Any multitasking difficulties you are having are a result of the limitations of the Win MEoperating system (OS)-- not your processor.
Both the AMD Athlon and Pentium 4 are equally compatible with the multitasking demands of your OS. Furthermore, there would be no benefit to adding another CPU (via a new motherboard) to your system-- it would remain unused by Windows ME.
In order to take advantage of a second processor, you would need to upgrade to Win NT, Win2000, wait around for Win XP, or switch to another multiprocessing-capable OS, such as Linux. Currently, the Athlon (and even regular Athlons and Durons ) from AMD, and the Pentium IIIand Xeon from Intel are supported in dual processor systems, with the appropriate motherboard and chipset. Even then, as befuddled by HP, the amount of increased speed seen from adding a second processor will depend on what programs you are running on your system and whether they are written to take advantage of multiprocessing.
When 'System Resources ' are a factor in system lock-ups or sluggish performance, the blame rests with the memory-hampered design of Windows 9x/Me. Increased RAM or a faster (or different, or second) CPU will not solve this built-in restriction. The only real solution to escaping this system resource ceiling is an upgrade to one of the OS's as mentioned above. Before deciding to upgrade or switch, however, you should visit microsoft tech support article to troubleshoot your system freezing and BSOD problems
I have been trying to research the differences between the Celeron and the Pentium with regards to bottom line performance. The Intel site denotes quite a substantial difference, while other comparisons state the Celeron outperforms the Pentium-II.
My question is: What kinds of differences can I expect with regard to performance and ownership of the Celeron versus the Pentium-III? How does the Celeron-466 compare to the Pentium-450, for example?
The main architectural differences between Celerons, Pentium-IIs and Pentium-IIIs can be found on our Intel Stats pages. The performance differences between the Celeron-466 and the PentiumIII-450 can be illustrated using our CPU Comparator.
In summary, the main differences between Celerons and Pentiums are in the areas of bus speed and L2 cache features. Both Pentium-II's and -III's ship with 512kB of secondary (L2) CPU instruction cache. This allows the CPU to store recently used instructions close by and is responsible for much of their high performance.
The Celerons that Intel first introduced as a low-cost CPU alternative (266 & 300MHz versions) were basically just Pentium-II's without any L2 cache at all. This deficiency really punished Celeron performance when compared to competitive AMD and Cyrix chips. In response, subsequent Celeron versions (300A and up) were provided with 128kB of L2 cache. Though only one-quarter the size of the Pentium cache, it was built to run at the full speed of the respective CPU, rather than at half-speed as in the Pentiums. Due to its higher manufacturing cost and technical issues, the larger Pentium cache memory has always been set to run at only half the speed of the CPU itself. For a full-speed L2 in a Pentium design, you need to get into Intel's (much more expensive) Xeon line.
What Intel plays down-- but nearly everyone knows-- is that the full-speed, quarter-size Celeron cache gives them almost the same performance as the half-speed, full-size cache gives Pentiums. Thus you'll find that, for most applications, Celerons rated at the same MHz will equal or better an equivalent Pentium-II, for a much lower price.
For example:
Celeron @ 466MHz x 128kB L2 @ 466MHz =>
Pentium-II @ 450MHz x 512kB L2 @ 225MHz
Pentium-III's are given an added boost with an inherently faster system bus speed (100MHz vs. 66MHz for the Celerons) and Intel's new SSE 3D instruction set. This combination of hardware and firmware enhancements gives Pentium-III's a significant edge over the Celeron's smaller cache and slower bus.
Additional discussion on L2 cache can be found here, while more technical issues can be found at Intel's developer web site.
New Intel® Pentium® II and Celeron® Processors Complete 1998 Desktop Processor Line-up
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 24, 1998 – Intel Corporation today introduced its fastest processor ever for mainstream Performance PCs, entry-level servers and workstations, and two new basic PC processors that offer Intel quality and dependability at a great value. The new Pentium® II processor 450 MHz provides the highest levels of computing performance for a wide range of productivity and entertainment applications, while the Intel® Celeron® processors 333 MHz and 300A MHz enable reliable Basic PC systems on which to run today's common PC programs. These processors complete Intel's 1998 desktop processor line up.
"Intel's new Pentium II and Celeron processors enable an attractive new field of PCs for the current back-to-school and upcoming holiday buying seasons," said Sean Maloney, corporate vice president, Intel Sales and Marketing Group. "Pentium II processors, combined with some of the most competitive new PC prices in years, enable great systems for today and the future, while PCs based on the new Intel Celeron processors deliver a great value and help open the door to computing for new PC users."
The Pentium II processor 450 MHz delivers up to a 10 percent* performance improvement over the Pentium II processor 400 MHz, and it provides maximum investment protection to business and consumer users. Entry-level servers and workstations also benefit greatly from the Pentium II processor's increased performance. New systems based on this processor run a wide range of common and emerging business applications, and they help relieve the graphics and information bottlenecks common to single- and dual-processor systems. All of these systems run on the 100-MHz system bus, allowing faster communication between the processor and other parts of the computer system.
The Intel Celeron processors 333 MHz and 300A MHz include 128 KB of integrated Level 2 cache on the processor core. These additions to the Celeron processor product family are capable of running today's common business and consumer PC applications, as well as opening the door to the Internet for the growing number of new PC users. Designed to meet the specific needs of Basic PC users, the Intel Celeron processors 333 MHz and 300A MHz deliver up to a 38 percent* and 25 percent* performance improvement, respectively, over the Intel Celeron processor 300 MHz.
Product Features, Price and Availability
The Pentium II processor 450 MHz, which is built around Intel's industry-leading P6 microarchitecture and is supported by the Intel 440BX AGPset, is also offered at 400, 350, 333, 300, 266 and 233 MHz speeds. In 1,000-unit quantities, the Pentium II processor 450 MHz costs $669, and is available today in systems from leading PC manufacturers. Boxed Pentium II processors, SE440BX motherboards for PCs, and N440BX motherboards for high-volume servers are now available from Intel product dealers and resellers.
The Intel Celeron processors are now offered at 333 MHz and 300A MHz speeds (both with 128 KB of integrated L2 cache on the processor core), and the 300 MHz and 266 MHz speeds (without integrated L2 cache). In 1,000-unit quantities, Intel Celeron processors 333 MHz and 300A MHz cost $192 and $149, respectively. These processors are supported by the Intel 440EX AGPset and are well-suited for a broad range of Basic PC motherboard designs. Both processors are now available in systems today from major PC manufacturers. Boxed Intel Celeron processors and the accompanying MU440EX Micro ATX motherboards are also available from Intel product dealers and resellers.
Intel, the world's largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of computer, networking and communications products.
I would like to know more about the on-die L2 cache.
1. Is it an alternative solution to the SRAM cache implementation?
2. Which CPU's currently use the on-die L2 cache?
3. Which CPUs currently use the SRAM cache?
4. Are on-die caches cheaper to make than SRAM chips?
5. As the fabrication process is reduced to 0.18 and smaller, will the on-die L2 cache be the future of caches on CPU's?
1. YES.
2. Intel's Celeron-A (300MHz and up) and mobile (not desktop) Pentium-II;
AMD's K6-III.
3. AMD's K6-2 & K6-III.
4. NO.
5. YES (IMHO).
There are currently three flavours of L2 cache employed in today's CPUs. SRAM (Static RAM) cache generally refers to the oldest of the three technologies, where the L2 cache is located on the system motherboard running at the speed of the Front Side Bus (FSB). An on-die L2 cache is a faster alternative to an SRAM cache, particularly as CPU clock speeds continue to increase.

To illustrate the performance impacts of the different types of L2 cache, take these CPUs as an example:
CPU (MHz) on-die L2 (MHz) BSB L2 (MHz) FSB L2 (MHz)
Celeron 300 ***** ***** ***** 66
http://www.cpuscorecard.com/all_cpus.htm - IC-300http://www.cpuscorecard.com/all_cpus.htm - IC-300
Celeron A 300 128 kb x 300 ***** ***** 66
http://www.cpuscorecard.com/all_cpus.htm - ICA-300http://www.cpuscorecard.com/all_cpus.htm - ICA-300
Celeron A 400 128 kb x 400 ***** ***** 66
http://www.cpuscorecard.com/all_cpus.htm - IC-400Error! Filename not specified.http://www.cpuscorecard.com/all_cpus.htm - IC-400
Pentium II 300 ***** 512 kb x 150 ***** 100
http://www.cpuscorecard.com/all_cpus.htm - IP2-300http://www.cpuscorecard.com/all_cpus.htm - IP2-300
Pentium II 400 ***** 512 kb x 200 ***** 100
http://www.cpuscorecard.com/all_cpus.htm - IP2-400Error! Filename not specified.http://www.cpuscorecard.com/all_cpus.htm - IP2-400
K6-2 300 ***** ***** 1024 kb x 100
http://www.cpuscorecard.com/all_cpus.htm - AK62-300http://www.cpuscorecard.com/all_cpus.htm - AK62-300
K6-2 400 ***** ***** 1024 kb x 100
http://www.cpuscorecard.com/all_cpus.htm - AK62-400Error! Filename not specified.http://www.cpuscorecard.com/all_cpus.htm - AK62-400
Intel's Celeron-A's demonstrate the newest implementation of L2 cache: built onto the same die as the CPU itself. Check the Celeron Stats page to see how the transistor count rises dramatically, as a result.

The Pentium-II uses a prior L2 technology, where the cache is built onto a dedicated Back Side Bus (BSB), between the FSB and the CPU. Although the BSB can run at the same speed as the CPU, cache memory capable of such speeds is much more expensive. Therefore, in the Pentium-II, the more economical half-speed cache is used (for a full-speed BSB, check out Intel's Xeon line).

AMD's K6-2 illustrates the oldest, on-board L2 cache design. Though the size of the cache is larger, its FSB speed limit shows its effect as CPU clock speeds increase.

The original Celeron-300, bereft of L2 cache, shows a significant performance penalty as a result. The L2-enabled Celeron-A at 300MHz is able to at least keep pace with a Pentium-II or K6-2 at the same clock speed.

At a processor speed of 400MHz, while its FSB runs at a pokey 66MHz, the Celeron-A still remains in the same performance league as both the Pentium II and the K6-2, mostly due to its newer on-die L2 cache.