Upgrading PC - Celeron D or P4

[OnePanda]

Hey all, well I'm looking to upgrade my dell dimension 8200 series. I've seen that its rdram (im at 512mb now) and it's pretty expensive so I won't be getting any extra.

I was looking to upgrade the cpu and video card. For the cpu, I think that it requires a socket 478.

So should I get a P4 socket 478 (with 1mb L2 cache) or a Intel Celeron D (512mb L2 Cache, but running at a higher frequency). Here's what I'm looking at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&MaxPrice=130&SubCategory=343&Submit=Property
The Celeron D I would buy is over 2.4 ghz but half the L2 cache, this pc will be use for gaming (quake 4) so which cpu should I go for? Even though its a Celeron D, the core is a prescott, what's with that?

Video card, I'd like to keep it under 100 and I saw newegg had a sale on the evga fx5500 (256mb), is this a good deal or should I look for something else?

Thanks for the suggestions

 

[sllewe]

Well first off im an intel guy...but i would never recommend a Celeron for a gamer. The huge decrease in L2 cache is terrible fomr most apllications (althogh gaming is not to cache dependent) BUt not to mention they are just bad preformers. They are great for surfing the web and such, but not for games.

That said...your socket 478 so you have the option of a northwood core. ANd i would seize on that. Prescotts while supporting more cache, are alot hotter. ALot of the hype surounding that core was not really that great.

The "D" in celeron D represents that it uses the prescott core.


Sean

 

[vnf4ultra]

I'd suggest getting a p4 instead of a celeron as well.
I put this cpu.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116178
In my dell which had a 1.8ghz northwood in it. It's a nice cpu, but it does lack HT tech, but I think it's ok.

My advise is buy a 478 cpu while you can, they're already starting to "fade away", and not be as available.
Northwood cpus are difficult to find new anymore, although some places sell used ones for less money.

If you can afford it and have good cooling I'd suggest this one.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116171

Here's somewhat of a comparison although not exact.
http://www23.tomshardware.com/index.html?modelx=33&model1=42&model2=26&chart=25
In that a celeron d 335 is about the same as a pentium 4 northwood 2.4ghz 533fsb. But a prescott 2.4ghz has more cache, so it might do better.

Here's the difference between the celeron d and the 3.0E ghz cpu.
http://www23.tomshardware.com/index.html?modelx=33&model1=42&model2=14&chart=25