Intel Celeron 2.60 socket: Socket 478

What the Celeron 2.60 is

The Intel Celeron 2.60 is a 2.6 GHz single-core value processor from June 2003. It runs one NetBurst Northwood core at 2.6 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 62.6 W in a Socket 478 package. The cpu_list 73 W value differs from the table 62.6 W, and the table value is used here.

The 2.60 uses a 400 MT/s front side bus with a 26x multiplier. Intel placed it as the mid value Northwood-128 with the same 128 KB cache as slower Celeron parts. The chip supports MMX, SSE and SSE2. Pentium 4 2.60C parts at the same 2.6 GHz offer 512 KB with Hyper-Threading as a mainstream alternative, so threads and cache separate the lines at identical clocks.

Steady power growth with clocks marks the value line. The move from 59.8 W on the 2.40 to 62.6 W on the 2.60 needs only a small cooler step. That is why boards qualified for slower Celeron parts normally accept the 2.60 without a cooling change.

Socket and motherboard compatibility

The Celeron 2.60 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.

Office DDR towers are the natural match. Boards listing Northwood Celeron parts accept the chip with a 62.6 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 62.6 W heatsink.

Upgrade paths

On Socket 478 the steps are Celeron 2.70 and 2.80 Northwood parts. Pentium 4 2.60C parts add threads and cache as a larger lift. Beyond Socket 478 a move to LGA 775 needs a new board. The 2.60 lifts with the lever, so swaps need no solder work.