Intel Celeron 466 Review

by FastSite
05/11/1999 | 12:00 AM

On April 26 Intel introduced a new processor from the Celeron family - Intel Celeron 466. Andagain the processor frequency went up. However, there are two other interesting things we would like to point out . First, thefrequency of the eldest Celeron processor, intended for low-cost home and office PCs, surpassed thatof the eldest Intel Pentium II 450MHz, meant for more exacting users. And the second thing. Thoughthe bus frequency of Intel Celeron 466MHz remains the same - 66MHz - another step has been stillmade towards 0.18 micron technology and hence towards 100MHz Celeron processors.<%BANNER[article]%>

Well, as for the increased frequency, it isn't surprising at all. The acceleration of CPUsfor sub-$1000 PC market is a forecast thing, especially taking into account a number of successfultries in this direction effected by AMD, for example. This company has already launched its K6-2 with475MHz frequency. Besides, overclockers have already taken note that Intel Celeron 300A is the best choicefor them. This processor can be easily overclocked with the system bus frequency set to 100MHz instead of66. Especially if it comes in a PGA package! And the Intel Celeron 450 you get in the end can freelymeasure swords with Pentium II. But now it's also time for overclockers to weigh all pros and consand to think about their further preferences. On the one hand, it may be better to upgrade a more efficientCeleron because Pentium III is still too expensive and SSE-instructions are not so vitally urgent yet.While on the other hand, it may turn out better for them to wait until a 100MHz FSB is finally introducedfor Celeron, and to believe that it will make up for additional 16MHz of speed sacrificed for its sake.

As to the official sources, a 100MHz bus will be supported only by Celeron 500, which is due in thebeginning of the year 2000. And again it is supposed to be perfectly overclockable. However, 0.25 microntechnology has almost exhausted its potential at 500MHz frequency, that's why further frequency increasewill be possible only in two cases. The developers will either switch over to a new technology, or increasethe CPU core voltage. As for AMD, it has chosen the second way for the time being because of certainproblems with its productive capacities. But Intel with determination embarks on the first path.For us this means that Intel Celeron 500MHz with 100MHz FSB will be developed with 0.18 micron technology,which is much richer in various possibilities. That's why all overclockers, who are looking forward tobuying this particular CPU, won't be disappointed. But there is little hope that overclocking will leadto speed increase by 1.5 times, as we had with Celeron 300A. The clock multiplier of a new processoris most likely to be locked and the system bus frequency can hardly be raised to such a high level.However, this CPU is quite a promising piece, and you will still manage to get a lot from it.

But before the described Celeron appears in the market we'll meet another member of the samefamily. It will be a Celeron 500 with 66MHz FSB frequency, which is planned for September. However,the higher frequency will be its only distinctive feature from the today's PPGA Celeron processors.

And now back to the main subject of our review - Intel Celeron 466. This CPU, like all the otherCeleron kids, has a core similar to that of Pentium II but with an integrated 128KB L2 cache workingat the core frequency. Want to remind you that Pentium II cache works at half the core frequency,though its size is 512KB. This difference makes Celeron and Pentium II perform on almost the same levelin various office and gaming applications. That's why there are no serious reasons pushing you to buy aPentium II for everyday use.

As for the exterior of Intel Celeron 466, it will be available only in PPGA-version. Actually,it's high time you forgot about Slot-1 Celeron processor since Intel doesn't manufacture them any more.However, the market is full of different Slot-1 to Socket370 converters as well as of Socket370 mainboards.So, don't worry about the PGA-package: you have the whole lot of possible solutions at hand.

Performance

While testing the performance of a new Celeron processor, we will compare it to the eldest IntelPentium II and Intel Pentium III models. This comparison aims at proving that Celeron is not a defectiveCPU but a worthy adversary of Pentium II/III. Besides, while comparing we will also touch upon IntelCeleron 300A overclocked to 450MHz.

The testing system includes the following components:

• CPUs: Intel Pentium III 500MHz, Intel Pentium III 450MHz, Intel Pentium II 450MHz, IntelCeleron 300A and Intel Celeron 450;
• Chaintech 6BTM mainboard (for Pentium II/III processors) and ABIT ZM6 mainboard(for Celeron processors);
• ASUS V3400TNT graphics card (on Nvidia Riva TNT chipset);
• Sound card based on Ensoniq ES1370 chipset;
• IBM Titan DTTA 371010 harddisk;
• 128MB SEC PC-100 SDRAM.

We utilized the following applications:

• Windows98;
• Winstone 99 and Winbench 99 benchmarks;
• Quake2 3.20 running through OpenGL at 800õ600 resolution;
• Unreal 2.24 running through DirectX at 800õ600 resolution.

First of all, sticking to our tradition we checked the performance in the main office applicationswith the help of Winstone 99:

According to the results obtained, the new Celeron falls a little bit behind Pentium II and PentiumIII. And the cause is this notorious 66MHz bus. Pentium II and Pentium III processors can boasta 100MHz system bus that's why work with memory almost 1.5 times faster. And since Intel Celeron300A, overclocked to 450MHz, allows to increase system bus frequency to 100MHz, it also managedto surpass Intel Celeron 466. Well, overclockers have every right to be proud! Celeron 466 can defeatits 450MHz competitors only if overclocked to 525MHz. All this makes us believe that FSB frequencyhas a great influence on performance in general.

Now let's have a look at the results of some synthetic benchmarks:

This test shows the performance of the CPU while operating integers and working with system memory.And again the system memory is the one that betrays our hero and lets Pentium II, Pentium III andCeleron 450 take the lead.

This benchmark takes into consideration only the speed of the arithmetical FPU (all the datarequired for this benchmark fit into the processor cache). And here Intel Celeron 466 finally managesto leave its competitors behind due to its higher frequency.

And now let's try to weigh the chances of Intel Celeron 466 in different games:

Well, here again Intel Celeron 466 is slightly lagging behind the 100MHz CPUs. That's why wecan say for sure that FSB frequency is of great importance for gamers as well. Only with the increasedsystem bus frequency of Celeron 466 up to 75MHz (note that processor frequency was equal to 525MHz), itmanaged to get a bit closer to 450MHz processors with 100MHz FSB.

And in conclusion let us offer you the results obtained in the game maximally using the processorresource. It's a top game of 1999 - Unreal:

Judging by these results, the overclocked Celeron 300A gains more respect and popularity.Celeron 466 - even if overclocked! - can compete with Celeron 450MHz working at the system busfrequency equal to 100MHz.

Summing up, we would like to say that Celeron 300A (overclockable to 450MHz) retained its laurelsas the most efficient processor of its family. The 100MHz bus still means a lot for both: gamesand office applications. This is exactly the cause of Intel Celeron 466 failure. Its performancecan hardly impress anyone. Also if you have a look at the results shown by Intel Celeron 466overclocked to 525MHz, you can state without hesitation that an overclocked Celeron 300A will beatthe coming Celeron 500, which is supposed to have a 66MHz FSB. In the year 2000 a new Celeron islikely to appear and it will be the first one in the Celeron family, which will officially require a100MHz system bus frequency. Until then all overclockers will hardly have a cause for concern(if we disregard a 600MHz Pentium III due in September and which should cost the whole bunch of money).

Overclocking

As is known Intel Celeron core has a relatively simple structure. And this fact, as well as thelocation of L2 cache (it is integrated into the CPU core), makes Celeron one of the best foroverclocking. Let's see if it's true regarding Celeron 466.

From our performance benchmarks you already understood that we had also tested Intel Celeron 466 at525MHz. We got this frequency having set the FSB equal to 75MHz instead of 66. This overclocking wentabsolutely smoothly without any problems. So, we can be quite sure that 99.9% of all Celeron 466 processorswill perfectly work at this frequency.

However, all our attempts to its further overclocking ended up in a total failure. As we haveexpected Intel Celeron 466 had a locked clock multiplier equal to 7x. And when the FSB frequencywas set to 83MHz the processor started but ceased working in a minute or so. And we could see thesame thing with the core voltage either set to standard 2.0V or increased up to 2.1V, 2.2V and 2.3V.So, unfortunately, we have to admit that Intel Celeron 466 processor can be overclocked only to 525MHz.

There is actually another fact proving this sad conclusion: Intel is planning to switch over to anew 0.18 micron technology, when working with the frequencies exceeding 500MHz. Well, it looks as ifthe resources are almost exhausted. However, let's be fair: 525MHz is not that bad, actually. Ifoverclocked up to this level this processor can easily compete with Intel Pentium II 450, which hasa 100MHz FSB frequency.

Here is the table summing up all the data concerning overclocking of different Celeron processors models:

Considering the given table, we can make the following conclusions. First, all Celeron processorsare not that eager to work at frequencies exceeding 500MHz. Second, Celeron 466 can be overclockedto the highest level among all the rest. Nevertheless, the only piece that allows to set a 100MHzsystem bus is a Celeron 300A, which becomes the "overclocking king" and moreover, the most effectiveCeleron processor.

Conclusions

The main conclusion, which runs through the entire review, is that all we should do it's to havepatience and wait. Wait until Intel Celeron 500MHz with the official 100MHz FSB comes out. This CPUis supposed to provide perfect performance and be highly overclockable at the same time. However,its price is expected to be significantly lower than that of the eldest Pentium III models, whichwill be available in the market at that time. And at present the best choice is a Celeron 300A overclockedto 450MHz. Unfortunately, the manufacturing of this processor version has been already stopped, that's whyyou may simply fail to find it on sale. In this case Intel Celeron 466 will make up for it practicallyin all applications. It will offer you a good performance for a reasonable price. So, will you agree tosuch a replacement?