Monthly Archives: May 2012

Socket 478 Celeron 2.6GHz CPU

Understanding the markings on a CPU can make the difference between buying a CPU that’s optimal for your motherboard or buying one that’s slower. Even among CPU’s rated at the same clock speed there can be large differences.

The 2.6GHz CPU pictured here is a good example of a CPU that at first glance appears snappy, but is slower when compared to other CPUs.

The first indication this CPU is slower than others is the Celeron marking. Wikipedia describes Celeron CPU’s in this way:

Celeron processors can run all IA-32 computer programs, but their performance is often significantly lower when compared to similar CPUs with higher-priced Intel CPU brands.

Right after the 2.60GHz marking is the CPU’s level 2 cache, in this case 128kb. The cache controls how much information is being passed between the RAM and CPU. A 128kb cache is a very small amount of bandwidth. Consider that a Intel Pentium G620 Dual-Core Socket LGA1155 CPU has 512MB Level 2 cache and a Level 3 cache of 3MB, 128MB of L2 cache is minuscule (there is no level 3 cache on the CPU pictured).

The next number beside the cache, the 400, is the bus speed. If your motherboard only supports a front side bus speed of 400MHz then this CPU might suit your needs. But even among Socket 478 motherboards many support faster bus speeds ranging from 533 to 800MHz. If you own a Socket 478 motherboard with an 800MHz bus speed it’s better to opt for a CPU with an 800MHz bus speed.

The model of the CPU is next, SL6W5. Google SL6W5 and lots of web sites chock full of information for the CPU comes up.

This is most of the information you really need to know looking at CPUs. Most chips since early Athlon list at least clock speed, level 2 cache size and bus speed, but if you don’t see any of these you might want to check those “other numbers” on CPU archival sites like cpu-world.