Socket 370 recommendation

[HokieESM]

I'm building a system from several components I managed to pick up at "fire sale" prices (the first four below were obtained for less than $150)... its based on:

Intel Socket 370 motherboard (Tualatin capable) D815EEA2LU (integrated LAN, sound, video)
512MB of PC133
Seagate Barracuda IV 40GB HDD
Toshiba DVD drive (SD-M1612)
ATI 8500LE 64MB (that's been sitting around)

Now, notice that the CPU is missing. This is basically a "second" machine for checking email, browsing the web, burning a few music CDs, possibly running some "older" games (like Unreal--not 2003). What would be adequate here? The options are:

Celeron 1.3A (~$52 at googlegear)
PIII 1.13A (~$105)
PIII-S 1.26 (~$175)

Obviously, the CPUs are from slowest to fastest... but is the Celeron going to be adequate (saving the $50-125 could be nice), or should I jump to the 1.13? Or is the 1.26 really the only way to go?

I appreciate any advice you can give me! Thanks.

 

[Shooters]

I say go for the Celeron. It will be more than enough for the purposes you described and is less than half the price of any other processor you mentioned.

 

[Electrode]

I'd say get the Celeron. The A Celerons have 256k cache, so they are P3's in all but name. I've heard they overclock well, too.

EDIT: Actually, you should get a 1.0A Celeron. A 1GHz Celeron overclocked to 1.3 GHz would be at 133 MHz FSB, same as a P3, whereas a 1.3GHz Celeron at default speed has a 100 MHz FSB.

Of course, if you want maximum performance, get the 1.26 P3-S. It has 512k cache, same as a P4 Northwood. I have one, and it's really quite nice. 🙂

 

[HokieESM]

thanks for the recommendations! I was leaning towards the Celeron--I have another computer (see the link below) that's a P4 2.26 with (now) 1 GB of PC1066, so I don't need "power". The main thing here was a computer that is quiet and cool for my bedroom. And the extra cash I save might go for a ATI AIW 7500.

That's a good question: would the Celeron do for the encoding/decoding? I've seen some benchmarks--shockingly enough, the P3-based Celerons do OK. Any experience there? Thanks!