On 14.03.01, 21:37:02, Hanspeter Roth wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> how relevant is the determined CPU type?
> I have a Celeron and I get different reports from different OSs.
> 
> from NetBSD:
> cpu0: Intel Pentium III (E) (686-class)
> 
> from OpenBSD:
> cpu0: Intel Pentium III (Coppermine) ("GenuineIntel" 686-class, 128KB L2 cache) 631 MHz
> cpu0: FPU,V86,DE,PSE,TSC,MSR,PAE,MCE,CX8,SYS,MTRR,PGE,MCA,CMOV,PAT,PSE36,MMX,FXSR,SIMD
> 
> from Linux:
> CPU: Intel Pentium III (Coppermine) stepping 06
> Checking 386/387 coupling... OK, FPU using exception 16 error reporting.
> Checking 'hlt' instruction... OK.
> 
> Is Celeron enough compatible with Pention III?

Basically there are three different Celeron types. The very old ones
(up to 300 MHz, no "A"). These had no L2 Cache at a;;and were
generally very cheap and quite slow.

The later models (300A and all models above that) had 128k on-die
L2-Cache with full CPU core speed, which made them about as fast
(depending on the application) as the "regular" P2 with more, but
slower L2 Cache.

Then there is the Celeron 2 ("Coppermine"), which is based on the
copper-technology P3 core, and also has 128k on-die L2 cache with full
core speed.

Since all later "regular" P3 models also have on-die cache at full
speed, the Celeron's only advantage is a lower price.

The other difference is that "regular" P2 came with 66 and 100, and
"regular" P3 with 100 and 133 MHz front side bus clock rate, and until
very recently all Celerons were only available with 66MHz FSB. (Now
there are a few models with 100 MHz.)

Software-wise, everything from the PPro upwards is very compatible
with each other and generally referred to as "686 class". (except for
some extensions, of course, like MMX (all except PPro) and SSE (only
P3 and Coppermine-Celeron).

> 
> -- 
> Hanspeter Roth
> 

-- 
Bernd Sieker

NetBSD - the devil made me do it.
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