We have already written several tutorials on Sempron and Celeron D CPUs: "Sempron vs. Celeron D", "All Celeron Models", and "All Sempron Models", but let’s take a more careful look at the processors included in our review.

The Sempron model chosen was the 3000+, that’s the most popular Sempron among the models sold.

The main characteristics of the Sempron 3000+ tested are:

• Socket: 754
• Internal clock: 1.8 GHz
• Memory clock (external clock): 400 MHz (200 MHz DDR)
• HyperTransport bus clock: 1,600 MHz (800 MHz DDR)
• L1 memory cache: 128 KB
• L2 memory cache: 128 KB
• Voltage: 1.40 V
• Maximum temperature: 69º C
• Thermal power: 62 W
• Manufacturing process: 90 nm
• Core: Palermo
• 64-bit extensions enabled
• SSE3 instruction set and NX Disable
• Memory controller: Single channel
• More information: www.amd.com
• Average price in the USA*: USD 57.00

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Figure 3: AMD Sempron 3000+ CPU.

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Figure 4: Technical specs of the Sempron 3000+ tested.

The Celeron D chosen was the 331, for being the first Socket 775 Celeron to support the EM64T technology, that allows the processor to access more RAM memory, and the XD (eXecute Disable, also known as NX bit) technology, that prevents some kinds of viruses from attacking the PC.

The main characteristics of the Celeron D 331 tested are:

• Socket: 775
• Internal clock: 2.66 GHz
• Memory clock (external clock): 533 MHz (133 MHz QDR)
• L2 memory cache: 256 KB
• Voltage: 1.25 – 1.4 V
• Thermal power: 84 W
• Manufacturing process: 90 nm
• Core: Prescott
• 64-bit extensions enabled
• SSE3 instruction set and eXecute Disable
• More information: www.intel.com
• Average price in the USA*: USD 54.00

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Figure 5: Intel Celeron D 331 CPU.

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Figure 6: Technical specs of the Celeron D 331 tested.