DUAL CELERON PROCESSOR

SMP (Symmetric Multiprocessing) in the old day can only be found in very expensive server class machines. But as CPU price dropped and applications demanding more CPU power, more and more power users now are able to affort getting a multi processors machine. Since Intel introduced Celeron Processors, it become one of the choices for today's entry level PC CPUs. The first two version of Celeron Processor are 266MHz and 300MHz core frequency and doesn't contain level two cache. These CPUs are known not to do very much. Then, Intel started to introduce the 300A with 300MHz core frequency and 128k level two cache that runs as fast as the CPU core. This made Intel's Celeron Processor become more competitive in the low end PC market once again. Intel's Celeron Processor basically has the same CPU core as the Pentium II processor. The main different is the level two cache, Pentium II processor has 512k level two cache but only runs at half of the CPU core speed vs. Celeron processor has 128k level two cache but runs at full CPU core speed. According to an Intel engineer that I have spoken to, if a celeron processor can have 256k level two cache; it will run as proficient as or better than a Pentium II processor. As for Price-Performance, personally, I think the Celeron Processor is much better under any circumstances.

If you are thinking of getting a dual CPU system, you might consider getting a dual Pentium II or Pentium III processor. But, did you know Celeron Processor has the same CPU core as Pentium II processor and it *is* possible to run in dual configuration?

There are 2 different packages for Intel Celeron Processors, they are S.E.P.P. (Single-Edge Processor Package) also known as "cartage" and PPGA Package (Plastic Pin Grid Array) also known as "Socket 370". S.E.P.P. version of Celeron Processor basically is a circuit board with a CPU core chip and level two cache on it and all packed up in a "cartage". With some hard core hacking from a Japanese guy - Tomohiro Kawada and some breath taking "research". He was able to modify his S.E.P.P. Celeron Processor to run in dual mode and published his "experiment" on the Web (English version also available). To make the story short, (make sure go check out Tomohiro Kawada's web site when you have a chance) what Intel did with the S.E.P.P. version of Celeron processor is they have hardwired the CPU core so that it cannot run in dual configuration. What Tomohiro did is with some surgery to the processor it is able to bypass the hardwire and allow the CPUs to do the handshake after reset.

As Intel trying to lower the cost of manufacture Celeron Processors, Intel re-introduce socket package, which is the PPGA Package. PPGA version of Celeron Processor is a new die that consist of the CPU core and level two cache on the same chip. Before Socket 370 motherboard was widely available, companies like ABIT, MSI and a few others has made the Socket 370 to Slot 1 convertor, also known as the "Slocket". (Technically speaking, they should be call "PGA370 to SC242 convertor".) This allows PPGA Celeron processor to work with Slot 1 motherboard, and the benefit comes later if the user decides to upgrade to Intel's S.E.P.P. Processors like Pentium II or Pentium III. All the person needs to change is the CPU (hopefully). With the PPGA Celeron Processor and the introduction of Slocket, no more breath taking surgery is require for dual operation. Some slocket might require a minor modification, like adding a resister. With MSI 6905 Ver1.1 slocket, no modification is require and it is the most popular choice around.

Of course, if you want to have dual celeron in your computer, your motherboard must be able to support multi-processors at the least. Below, are five motherboards we have tested, read on...

News Flash! As of July 99, Intel started to add a "For Uni-Processor Only" label to retail version of Celeron Processors. From many newsgroup, most people reported these processors still works fine as SMP configuration.

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