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What exactly is a celeron?

Forum CPU & Components : CPUs - What exactly is a celeron?

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nonxcarbonx   09-20-2009 at 06:54:54 AM

I heard that it's more of a platform than a processor. Can anyone elaborate?

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jedimasterben   09-20-2009 at 06:58:23 AM
- 0 +

Platform? Where the heck'd you hear that?

Celeron is Intel's low-end processor family. Usually they'll have a lower frequency and much less cache than the Core 2 or Pentium 4 models, as they're lower binned chips.

Reply to jedimasterben
amnotanoobie   09-20-2009 at 07:22:19 AM
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Maybe you're talking about Centrino?

Wherein you'd need an intel chipset, intel wireless card and intel processor to have that nice sticker.

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HundredIslandsBoy   09-20-2009 at 08:01:05 AM
- 2 +

You might be confused. Back in the 70's, an Italian designer made "Celeroni" which were very popular platform shoes with very thick soles.

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MRFS   09-20-2009 at 07:45:43 PM
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The name "Celeron" is a moving target:

Intel applies that brand name to various low-end CPUs
both single- and dual-core + there are 65nm versions
and 45nm versions:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 20Desktops


For $55, this E3200 Wolfdale is quite a capable CPU:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product


MRFS

Reply to MRFS
warmon6   09-20-2009 at 07:50:12 PM
- 0 +

Well here the link to the celeron. it a cpu.

http://www.intel.com/products/desk [...] dt_celeron


Message edited by warmon6 on 09-20-2009 at 07:50:30 PM
Reply to warmon6
MarkG   09-20-2009 at 08:09:19 PM
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Typically the Celeron has been based on the mainstream Intel CPU with a much smaller cache and possibly with some performance features removed. Since the cache makes up much of the die area for the CPU, that means they can fit more CPUs on a wafer and sell them for less; I remember some people claiming that Intel have sold mainstream CPUs where the cache didn't work as Celerons, but I've no idea whether that's true.

Some of the early Celerons weren't much worse than the mainstream CPU because the lost performance from the small cache could be made up by overclocking higher than the mainstream.

Reply to MarkG
blackhawk1928   09-20-2009 at 09:09:48 PM
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Celeron is not a platform, its Intels low-end processor family as one of the other posters said, I think you are confusing it with centrino mobile technology. Intel has three main processor families in the consumer level (busniss is different completley). Celeron, Pentium, and Core. These three families break into more specific family branches. Go to www.intel.com and you will get all information about thier technology, products, and all that stuff. Its a great website.

Reply to blackhawk1928
daship   09-20-2009 at 10:04:54 PM
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Todays Celerons are Core 2 Duos with lower FSB and smaller cache. After a overclock the only difference is cache.

Reply to daship
MU_Engineer   09-21-2009 at 02:14:47 AM
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nonxcarbonx wrote :

I heard that it's more of a platform than a processor. Can anyone elaborate?



The Celeron is simply a mainstream chip with things turned off, reduced cache, and reduced clock speeds to make it a budget chip. I think the "platform" thing you're thinking of is "Centrino," which is Intel's mainstream mobile platform (Intel Pentium M/Core/Core 2 CPU + Intel IGP + Intel wireless card).

As a side note, some Celerons are decent and some suck. The current desktop Celeron 400 series is decent if you want a very efficient single core. The dual-core Celeron E1000 series isn't so great as they have so little L2 cache that performance is much poorer than equivalently-clocked Pentium Dual Core or Core 2 CPUs. I'd also avoid the Celeron M laptop CPUs as they lack SpeedStep and will constantly run at full voltage and full speed and eat your battery much more quickly than a SpeedStep-enabled Pentium Dual Core or Core 2 CPU.


Message edited by MU_Engineer on 09-21-2009 at 02:18:36 AM
------------------------------ Upcoming Overdue Build: Dual-socket workstation, ~32 GB DDR3, OS on a fast SSD, high-end GPU, all wrapped up in a huge tower case. Coming H2 2011.

Yes, I am actually still running the Pentium III 1.0B Coppermine in the picture.
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randomizer   09-21-2009 at 04:19:34 AM
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Celeron M: The bane of a laptop user. I can vouch for their craposity.

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PsychoSaysDie   09-21-2009 at 04:20:37 AM
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Celeron is just a name they call C2D's with low cache

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------------------------------ E3300 @ 5Ghz 1.675v
8GB DDR3 2000
Intel X25-M
XFX 5970
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someguy7   09-21-2009 at 04:28:30 AM
- 0 +

PsychoSaysDie wrote :

Celeron is just a name they call C2D's with low cache




Not true. There are plenty of celerons that are not C2D's. That is also new by the way the celeron core2s. Mu_Eningeer summed it up best.

Reply to someguy7
Upendra09   09-21-2009 at 04:33:45 AM
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Celerons are for old people who can't use a computer past checking their e mail and word docs

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17 inch screen Blu Ray drive
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Reply to Upendra09
PsychoSaysDie   09-21-2009 at 10:46:04 AM
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Upendra09 wrote :

Celerons are for old people who can't use a computer past checking their e mail and word docs




Funny how the E3300 uses the wolfdale core and has gone past 4Ghz easily

------------------------------ E3300 @ 5Ghz 1.675v
8GB DDR3 2000
Intel X25-M
XFX 5970
 Reply to PsychoSaysDie
shrex   09-21-2009 at 12:14:17 PM
- 0 +

randomizer wrote :

Celeron M: The bane of a laptop user. I can vouch for their craposity.



Atom cpus are much worse

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Reply to shrex
randomizer   09-21-2009 at 12:37:42 PM
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shrex wrote :

Atom cpus are much worse


I beg differ, alot. Atom is far superior to Celeron M.

------------------------------ http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w179/random1301/1224237394448br8.jpg http://nocleanfeed.com/nocensorship.gif
 Reply to randomizer
amdfangirl   09-21-2009 at 12:41:41 PM
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Celeron M... they weren't Netburst right?

Reply to amdfangirl
randomizer   09-21-2009 at 12:46:35 PM
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They use an updated variant of the P6 microarchitecture. Yonah is Core-based. I don't think there were any Netburst mobile CPUs (with good reason :kaola:).


Message edited by randomizer on 09-21-2009 at 12:47:25 PM
------------------------------ http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w179/random1301/1224237394448br8.jpg http://nocleanfeed.com/nocensorship.gif
 Reply to randomizer
amdfangirl   09-21-2009 at 12:50:32 PM
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For 5 minute battery life :P

Reply to amdfangirl
sepayne21   09-21-2009 at 02:44:28 PM
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amnotanoobie wrote :

Maybe you're talking about Centrino?

Wherein you'd need an intel chipset, intel wireless card and intel processor to have that nice sticker.



I think this guy is on the right track. I'd say the OP was asking about centrino. (yes) Centrino is a platform; Celeron is a low cache low fsb low clockspeed processor.

Reply to sepayne21
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