Why does Saint Mary's College recommend Intel Pentium series processors for students buying new Windows-based computers?
What is the difference between the Intel Pentium 4 and Core Processors and the Intel Celeron? What is Centrino technology? Which should I get? (Please note that this information has no bearing on Mac computer selections)
~ We believe that Intel processors are the best in the industry for Windows-based computers. There are several key differences between the Pentium 4 and the Celeron processors from Intel Corporation, the largest manufacturer of high-speed computer processors in the world. Who better to explain the difference than Intel themselves? The following are quotes directly from Intel's web site (www.intel.com) and is referenced within to the pages they are taken from for your review:
The Intel® Pentium® Core Duo processor
Newest & fastest dual-core performance
With its two execution cores, the Intel Core Duo processor is optimized for multi-threaded applications and multitasking. You can simultaneously run multiple demanding applications such as graphics-intensive games or serious number-crunching programs - while downloading music or running virus-scanning security programs in the background.
Power efficiency
Demand for greater power efficiency in computing is on the rise from desktop to laptop PCs. With an Intel Core Duo processor, you get a balance of great dual-core computing capabilities and power savings. Its enhanced voltage efficiency supports cooler and quieter system designs as compared to traditional desktop and laptop PCs. And thanks to the innovative energy efficient technologies built-in, the Intel® Core™ Duo processor is able to transfer power only to those areas of the processor that need it, thereby enabling laptops to save power and desktops to have thinner, sleeker designs.
The Intel® Pentium® 4 processor- Best performance & longetivity 
The new Intel® Pentium® 4 processor at 3 GHz with an advanced 800 MHz system bus offers higher levels of performance, creativity and productivity. Based on Intel® NetBurst™ microarchitecture and built with Intel's 0.13-micron technology, the Pentium 4 processor delivers significant performance gains for use in home computing, business solutions and all your processing needs. The Pentium 4 processor at 3 GHz with an advanced 800 MHz system bus also supports Hyper-Threading Technology†, enabling you to multitask more efficiently when you run demanding applications at the same time.
The Intel® M processor- The best in mobile computing power
The Intel® M processor is an excellent choice for notebook and other mobile computers. The Intel Pentium M processor is available at speeds of up to 1.70 GHz, and includes performance enhancements such as a power-optimized 400 MHz system bus, Micro-Ops Fusion and Dedicated Stack Manager for faster execution of instructions at lower power.
The Intel® Centrino™ mobile technology- Technology for Mobility
Intel® Centrino™ mobile technology is Intel's new technology designed specifically for mobile computing with built-in wireless LAN capability and breakthrough mobile performance. It also enables extended battery life and sleek, easy-to-carry notebook PCs.+ This is Intel's first integrated computing technology designed from the ground up for wireless notebook PCs.
The Intel® Celeron® processor- Home computing & basic PC value 
The Intel® Celeron® processor is designed to bring a balanced level of proven technology and value to basic PC desktops. With the Celeron processor you can expect an affordable and reliable PC for your home or home office to meet your basic computing needs, such as e-mailing friends and relatives, tracking home finances, and running interactive or educational software for your kids. It provides great balance between computing power and affordability. The entire family of Celeron processors delivers Intel technology, quality, and reliability to the desktop, value PC consumer. ( click here to read more on the Celeron processor from Intel.)
Saint Mary's College stongly recommends that you buy Intel Pentium 4, Intel Core Duo, and Intel Pentium M series processors.
Our recommendation is that you buy with longevity in mind. You are buying a computer for your student that will be a viable and usable computer three years from now and not for the possibly ultra-fast speed that it may offer today. Since the Celeron processors are less expensive, many people opt to buy the less expensive processor (or even an AMD processor) for their student and, as new versions of Windows are released, see drastic reductions in performance. For this reason, we recommend buying a Pentium 4 and Pentium M series processors since newer versions of Microsoft Windows (and other applications) are more normally tested on and optimized for the Pentium line of processors.
Best Answer
Here are the most important similarities and differences between the Pentium 4 and the Celeron chips coming out today:
- Core - The Celeron chip is based on a Pentium 4 core.
- Cache - Celeron chips have less cache memory than Pentium 4 chips do. A Celeron might have 128 kilobytes of L2 cache, while a Pentium 4 can have four times that. The amount of L2 cache memory can have a big effect on performance.
- Clock speed - Intel manufactures the Pentium 4 chips to run at a higher clock speed than Celeron chips. The fastest Pentium 4 might be 60 percent faster than the fastest Celeron.
- Bus speed - There are differences in the maximum bus speeds that the processors allow. Pentium 4s tend to be about 30 percent faster than Celerons.
When you sort all this out and compare the two chips side by side, it turns out that a Celeron and a Pentium 4 chip running at the same speed are different beasts. The smaller L2 cache size and slower bus speeds can mean serious performance differences depending on what you want to do with your computer. If all you do is check e-mail and browse the Web, the Celeron is fine, and the price difference can save you a lot of money. If you want the fastest machine you can buy, then you need to go with the Pentium 4 to get the highest clock speeds and the fastest system bus.