Introduction
Intel Celeron 2.8GHz ReviewIntel's Pentium 4 Prescott processor has been receiving most of the press attention recently. Initial performance suggests that the architectural changes instigated by Intel won't be realised until the Prescott is clocked at higher speeds. On reflection, the Prescott is quite distinct from the present Northwood core, so performance deviation was always likely. Whatever the case, Intel has positioned it to continue its top-end 32-bit consumer-level line.
The present Northwood lineup runs from 2.4GHz through to 3.4GHz, and Intel extolls the virtues of the 200MHz FSB (800MHz quad-pumped) CPU and i865/i875 motherboard chipset combination. The innate problem for any OEM builder or enthusiast who's got an eye on the lower end of the market is inevitably price. Entry into the Northwood or Prescott camp is always on the wrong side of £100, yet we know there's a huge market for PC base units priced at between £300-£500. That's where Intel Celeron (read budget) range of processors are positioned.
Current Celerons take a, for want of a better word, stunted Northwood core as their base for operations. They still keep in touch with Intel's mantra of 'high clock speeds above anything else'. Today we're casting our eye over a Celeron running at no less than 2.8GHz. The uninformed may consider it, on paper, to be a prodigious CPU. However, the Celeron suffers from an acute case of low-work-per-clock-cycle ratio, which is rather contagious in Intel ranks. Joking aside, let's take a closer look.
