Baby upgrade processor decision

[mcampbellpro]

This may seem like a silly, no brainer question - but I'm confused. I've read a ton of reviews and articles on this topic, and I'm just not sure how to interpret the conflicting views I've found.

I'm planning a small upgrade - I've just recently gotten new DDR and AGP video, and all my Hds are IDE, so I don't want to make a purchase that will outdate my current components..PLUS I already have 2 478 processors to choose from..so I'm only talking about a new 478 mobo.

I really like the looks of the ASUS P4P800-E Deluxe. Here's my question: I have a p4 2.4 Northwood, or I have a Celeron D 3.2 Prescott with HT.

I'm into a lot of tweaking and overclocking, and I want the best out of the limited choices I have. It seems that maybe the Celeron is the better choice "out of the box" but I've read a lot about how they don't quite match up with even a slower P4. Does the simple fact that the Celeron is faster and has HT make all the difference, or will the P4 be better just because it isn't on the "budget" line?

Any advice will be much appreciated! thank you!

Oh - more information that might help - I am a software/web designer, and I can divide my computer use into 2 main parts. I'm either multitasking several development apps like phpedit, mysql gui's, dvd burning, photo editors, and browsers all at once OR I'm using just one intensive app like Director or Flash or DVDlab. - I generally am using one cpu intensive app at a time or I am pushing multitasking pretty hard.

 

[o1die]

The "c" northwood 2.4 has good overclocking potential and would be my choice. If you have an older "b" series 2.4, then go with the celeron d.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I'd take the celery if the P4 doesn't have HT.

 

[stevty2889]

The Celeron-D does NOT have hyperthreading, no celerons do. As for the 2.4, it depends, is at 400mhz FSB northwood, 533mhz FSB northwood, 533mhz FSB prescott, or 800mhz FSB northwood?

 

[mcampbellpro]

Hi again, Thanks for replying so far!

Both of the cpu's are 533 FSB. Its a P4 northwood, Celeron D Prescott...which said on the box that it had HT (could have been misleading I guess...?)

How do i know if its an "a" or "b" series? Or um, c for that matter?

 

[bongsteen]

does the size of cache matter? if it does then northwood it is.

 

[996GT2]

Looking at some processor comparisons on Tom's Hardware, I found that a Celeron D 2.8GHz (they didn't test the 3.2 GHz version) is roughly equal to (better sometimes) a 2.4Ghz Northwood Pentium 4. So if you don't plan to overclock, I'd stick the Celeron in there. Even though it has half the cache of the P4, its higher stock clock speed will more than make up for it. Be warned, though, that Celeron will run a lot hotter than the P4 for 2 reasons. 1) 800 mhz higher clock, so probably higher voltage. 2) It's a Prescott, what can you say?

Just FYI...NONE OF THE TWO HAVE HYPER-THREADING!
In the mainstream consumer market, HT is only found on the later Northwoods (800 mhz FSB-i.e. 3GHz NW) and the Prescott and Cedar Mill Pentium 4s, as well as the Pentium EE Dual-Core Processors. No Celerons have it.

 

[hans007]

well if that is a 2.4 norhtwood 533 bus, i'd take the celeron no matter what.

3.2 celeron is a 533 bus 256k cache prescott based cpu. so its only really behind by 256k cache, but thats a lot more clock speed with a little less IPC.

if the northwood has HT , and 800 bus (p4 2.4c) then i guess its a bit closer though still probably the celeron is better by a bit.

 

[F1shF4t]

Originally posted by: 996GT2
Looking at some processor comparisons on Tom's Hardware, I found that a Celeron D 2.8GHz (they didn't test the 3.2 GHz version) is roughly equal to (better sometimes) a 2.4Ghz Northwood Pentium 4. So if you don't plan to overclock, I'd stick the Celeron in there. Even though it has half the cache of the P4, its higher stock clock speed will more than make up for it. Be warned, though, that Celeron will run a lot hotter than the P4 for 2 reasons. 1) 800 mhz higher clock, so probably higher voltage. 2) It's a Prescott, what can you say?

Just FYI...NONE OF THE TWO HAVE HYPER-THREADING!
In the mainstream consumer market, HT is only found on the later Northwoods (800 mhz FSB-i.e. 3GHz NW) and the Prescott and Cedar Mill Pentium 4s, as well as the Pentium EE Dual-Core Processors. No Celerons have it.

Actually just wanted to point out that the celeron will run at lower voltage 1.4v as opposed to p4 1.5v, BUT that celeron will almost melt through the mainboard LOL, i had a celeron d 2.4ghz and it ram at at idle, with stock cooler, at higher temp than my p4 northwood 3.2ghz at load with the same heatsink. Want a leg warmer the celeron d is a nice choice (so is any athlon xp as i've found lately )

Anyways if the p4 is the 533fsb or even 400fsb, the celeron will beat it hands down, if its the 800fsb with HT, then i would chooce the p4, ht is a very nice addition and makes a huge diff to general multitasking. EDIT also the 2.4ghz 800fsb p4 is famous for hitting good overclocks.

 

[Absolute0]

yeah 2.4 Northwood Bs are 533 bus, those suck for overclocking top out around 3 Ghz. I'd get the Celeron 3.2, they overclock pretty well.