Overclocking Computers with Intel Celeron (Coppermine)

Celeron processors based on the Coppermine core and manufactured with 0.18-micrometer technology have architecture similar to Pentium III processors based on the same core.

However, because of the smaller amount of L2 cache memory and the lower FSB frequency, these Celeron processors have lower performance than their more powerful prototypes. Nevertheless, like their Pentium III counterparts, they are characterized by high performance and wide possibilities of operating in overclocked modes.

As with Coppermine-based Pentium III, the processor multiplier, specifying the internal CPU frequency via the external frequency, is fixed for Coppermine-based Celeron. It is impossible to change the multiplier value. However, the existing technological reserve of Celeron allows significant increases of the FSB frequency, which determines external and internal processor frequencies. The process of increasing this value results in equivalent growth of processor performance and, consequently, overall system performance.

Overclocking potential is the highest for the first models of the Celeron line based on the Coppermine core.

The results of investigating such Celeron processors in overclocked modes are in the following sections.

Computer with Celeron 533 MHz

System Configuration

Processor — Intel Celeron 533 MHz (Coppermine core, 128 KB L2 cache, processor frequency operation, 66 MHz nominal FSB frequency, SL46S, made in Malaysia, Slot 1 — Socket 370 adapter)
Motherboard — Abit BE6-II (Intel 440BX AGPset chipset)
Temperature control — Massive heatsink and powerful fan for the processor
Hard disk — Western Digital 6.4 GB
RAM — 128 MB, DIMM, PC133, SDRAM
Video adapter — MSI MS-8809 GeForce
CD-ROM drive — Asus CD-S400/A (40x)
Operating system — Windows 98

Establishing Overclocking Modes

During overclocking, the system-bus frequency was increased from 66 MHz to 100 MHz. The built-in capabilities of the motherboard, based on the Intel 440BX chipset, allowed the hard disk, the video adapters, and other devices to operate in the nominal mode. The AGP bus coefficient was 2/3; the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus coefficient was 1/3.

According to the previously listed parameters, the CPU clock frequency was set to 800 MHz. The video-adapter clock frequency was 66 MHz. For the hard disk and other PCI devices, the frequency was 33 MHz.

Later, the FSB frequency was increased to 104 MHz and the CPU frequency to 832 MHz.

Testing the System

The following programs were used for testing: SiSoftware Sandra 2000 Professional, 3DMark2000, and Quake III (demo1). Test results are presented in Tables 18.10–18.12 and in Figs. 18.21–18.23.

Table 18.10: Results for Celeron 533 MHz (SiSoftware Sandra)
FSB frequency (MHz)	CPU frequency (MHz)	CPU rating	FPU rating	MMX Integer rating	MMX FPU rating
66	533 = 66 × 8	1,389	658	1,547	2,131
100	800 = 100 × 8	2,093	1,023	2,419	3,269
104	832 = 104 × 8	2,227	1,069	2,522	3,407

Table 18.11: Results for Celeron 533 MHz (3DMark2000)
FSB frequency (MHz)	CPU frequency (MHz)	3DMark2000 rating
66	533 = 66 × 8	3,166
100	800 = 100 × 8	3,987
104	832 = 104 × 8	4,037

Table 18.12: Results for Celeron 533 MHz (Quake III)
FSB frequency (MHz)	CPU frequency (MHz)	Frames per second
66	533 = 66 × 8	62.6
100	800 = 100 × 8	94.8
104	832 = 104 × 8	100.6

Figure 18.21: Celeron 533 MHz test results (SiSoftware Sandra)

Figure 18.22: Celeron 533 MHz test results (3DMark2000)

Figure 18.23: Celeron 533 MHz test results (Quake III)

Computer with Celeron 600 MHz

System Configuration

Processor — Intel Celeron 600 MHz (Coppermine core, 128 KB L2 cache, processor frequency operation, 66 MHz nominal FSB frequency, Socket 370)
Motherboard — MSI-6309 (VIA 694X, VT82C686B chipset)
Temperature control — Massive heatsink and powerful cooler for the CPU
Hard disk — Seagate 20 GB
RAM— 192 MB DIMM, PC133, SDRAM
Video adapter — Noname TNT2 Vanta (8 MB)
CD-ROM drive — Asus CD-S400/A (40x)
Operating system — Windows 98

Establishing Overclocking Modes

During overclocking, the system-bus frequency was increased from 66 MHz to 100 MHz. The built-in capabilities of the motherboard based on a Via Technologies chipset, allowed the hard disk, the video adapter, and other devices to operate at the nominal frequency. The AGP bus coefficient was set to 2/3; the PCI bus coefficient was 1/3.

According to the parameters set during overclocking, the CPU operating frequency was 900 MHz. For video adapter, the frequency was 66 MHz. For the hard disk and other PCI devices, it was 33 MHz.

Testing the System

For testing, the following WinBench 99 programs were used: CPUmark 99 and FPU WinMark. Test results are presented in Table 18.13 and in Figs. 18.24 and 18.25.