I'm making a Linux dedicated game server and I've got 1GB of ram, and a motherboard with the 865g chipset, so it runs Socket 478 CPUs.

I'm looking at these two CPUs:

Intel Celeron D 345 Prescott 533MHz FSB Socket 478
Hyper-Threading Support: No
L1 Cache: 12KB+16KB
L2 Cache: 256KB
Multi-Core: Single-Core
Multimedia Instruction: MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3
Operating Frequency: 3.06GHz
Process Type: 90 nm
Voltage: 1.25-1.4V
Newegg Item N82E16819112199

--------------- and this one ---------------

Intel Pentium 4 2.4A Prescott 533MHz FSB Socket 478
Hyper-Threading Support: No
L1 Cache: 12KB+16KB
L2 Cache: 1MB
Multi-Core: Single-Core
Multimedia Instruction: MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3
Operating Frequency: 2.4GHz
Process Type: 90 nm
Voltage: 1.25-1.4V
Newegg Item N82E16819116180

The fine people in the ##linux IRC channel on freenode all agreed that the greater cache was a better deal. I'd really appreciate a few more opinions before I spend my money.

Do you have any money limitations?

Idealy you would want a mutli core processor or at least one with hyper-threading to handle the grunt work of multiple users (although it depends on how many users you are expecting to serve).

If its a choice between the two, I would say go for the Pentium 4.

I would prefer to stay with this single core CPU. I don't have excess limbs to be paying for it anything of that magnitude.

Thanks for the reply!

Prescott cores perform worst than Northwood cores. Prescott cores consume a lot of power that have to be dissipated through a massive heatsink.

I recommend buying parity and ECC memory for any server.

Pentium 4 will always make you happier than Celeron. My question is why are you only comparing these 2 cpus? do you have these in your possesion already and are trying to determine which one to use? If you do not have these in you're possesion yet, and need to buy them, the Celeron can be bought at tigerdirect.com right now for $49, while a P4 3.0GHz is $219. But if your mother board will handle the Pentium D's (Dual Processor) the P-D 820, 2.8Gig is only $229. But its a Sock 775, and you'll have to research its compatability.

Also, what kinda server is this going to be? And how many users? Like OKMYX said, multiple users will require more processing power. Also with multiple users you may look at setting up a Gigabit Network.

Any more info you can offer will aid us in helping you make these decisions.

They are both Pentium 4 processors. Celeron just has less cache. For a game server or system, it is better to have more cache.

There is no point using 1 gigabit NIC if the internet connection will only be 1 megabit.

It is a 478 socket, so there is no chance that 775 socket chips will work. Read the post again.

Everybody knows that you have to cut a limb or two to buy Intel systems, but it still gets worst performance compared to AMD systems.

"There is no point using 1 gigabit NIC if the internet connection will only be 1 megabit."

There would be a point to use Gigabit NIC if the server is for use on a LAN. Such as a home or office file/application/print/fax/etc server. He didn't specify. But yes, if it is a web server, internet transfer speed would not justify gigabit, I agree with you there.

"It is a 478 socket, so there is no chance that 775 socket chips will work. Read the post again."

The cpu's he's asking about are 478, yes thats true. I was discussing the 775 because my question was in regards to wether or not he already had all his parts. If he already had a motherboard, and 478 cpus, than of course he'd stick with 478. But if he didn't already have a motherboard, or his cpus,his options are open. That is why I was discussing the socket 775's. Read the post again.

iam8up did specify that the system will be used as a Linux dedicated game server. Also iam8up did specify the chipset which is 865G. The 865G chipset can not be used with socket 775. I already read it the first time word by word. You skim it.

BTW, Pentium 4 with Prescott core may not work with 865G chipsets because these cores require more current than Northwood core.