Intel Celeron 2.0 socket: Socket 478

What the Celeron 2.0 is

The Intel Celeron 2.0 is a 2 GHz single-core value processor from September 2002. It runs one NetBurst Northwood core at 2 GHz with no Hyper-Threading, so 1 core gives 1 thread. Cache is 128 KB of L2 on a 130 nm process. Power is rated at 73 W in a Socket 478 package with a 400 MT/s front side bus and a 20x multiplier. A duplicate cpu_list row repeats the same spec, so one page covers both entries.

Northwood-128 cuts Pentium 4 Northwood cache from 512 KB to 128 KB at the same 130 nm base, which is why Celeron 2.0 parts at 2 GHz trail Pentium 4 2.0A parts with 512 KB despite matching frequency. Intel placed the 2.0 in September 2002 with the 2.10 and 2.20 value parts. The chip supports MMX, SSE and SSE2.

Value clocks with a slow bus and small cache suit office towers with SDRAM or early DDR boards. The 73 W envelope needs a standard Socket 478 cooler with normal airflow. That is why the 2.0 shipped in budget towers with integrated graphics.

Socket and motherboard compatibility

The Celeron 2.0 fits Socket 478 value desktops with a 400 MT/s bus and Northwood Celeron support. It needs a 478-pin board. The Socket vs chipset: what decides whether a CPU works guide covers pairing rules.

Budget DDR towers are the natural match. Boards listing Northwood Celeron 2.0 accept the chip with a 73 W cooler.

Memory, PCIe and cooling

Memory is DDR through the board chipset. The board sets speed and capacity.

A 400 MT/s bus ties the CPU to the chipset, while AGP handles graphics. No PCIe lanes originate on the die. Cooling uses the Socket 478 bracket with a 73 W heatsink.

Upgrade paths

On Socket 478 the steps are Celeron 2.10 and 2.20 Northwood parts. Celeron D Prescott parts offer 256 KB on newer boards. Pentium 4 2.0A parts add cache as a larger lift. The 2.0 lifts with the lever, so swaps need no solder work.