How to Compare Pentium 4 to Celeron Processors

The wide variety of labels and catchy names that manufacturers give to their computer processors do little to inform buyers about the actual capabilities and features. When buying a computer, there are several things you should look at when comparing a processor like the Pentium 4 to the Celeron.

Instructions

1. Look at the number of cores in each processor. This is one area in which the two processors are the same--they both feature quad core technology. In a simplistic sense, they both function as 4 processors in one. As you will see, this is where the similarities end.

2. Compare the cache memory. The Pentium 4 (P4) is a chip with a cache memory range up to 2 megabytes, while the Celeron usually comes with 28 or 256 kilobytes. The cache memory has a big impact on computer performance, and the Pentium 4 has around four times more than the Celeron.

3. Look at the clock speeds of the P4 versus the Celeron. This is in effect a measure of how fast the processor is running. The P4 models top out at around 3.8 gigahertz. The Celeron's top speed is about 2.8 gigahertz.

4. Evaluate the difference in BUS speeds for the two processors. These speeds indicate how fast data moves on the motherboard of the computer, and the P4 generally runs about 30 percent faster than the Celeron.

Tips & Warnings

• Base your decision on your needs. If you only use your computer for simple tasks like web browsing and word processing, you may not want or need to spend the extra money on a P4. If you place big demands on your computer, such as graphics-intense gaming, you may need to go with the better performance of the P4.

• Keep in mind that a simple clock speed statistic is not sufficient to compare two processors of different architecture.

References

• Difference Between a Celeron and Pentium 4 Processor

Resources

• CPU Benchmarks