hi. i like to play games on my comp like bf2 and hl2 and dod source. i am building a new system and i want to start using amd's instead of pentium so i have a couple of questions 1. If i buy an "Athalon 64" does this mean it is a 64 bit processor? 2. If i buy an athalon 64 will i have to buy windows 64 bit also? Or can i get just regular windows? 3. I've never seen an amd that had a clock speed of over like 2.5ghZ. will these be fast enough for me? any help would greately be appreciated, i really dont know my AMD's Thanks -Tom

1. If i buy an "Athalon 64" does this mean it is a 64 bit processor? The Athlon 64 is both 32-bit and 64-bit. Most of the Intel Pentium and Celerons are now the same way now. Both AMD and Intel will probably stop making 32-bit only processors sometime either in 2006 or 2007. When an Athlon 64 or Celeron/P4 (32/64 bit) runs under Windows XP it is only running in 32-bit mode. When it is running with Windows XP 64-bit it running in 64-bit mode but can switch to 32-bit emulation for old 32-bit programs. Old DOS 16-bit programs are not supported. 2. If i buy an athalon 64 will i have to buy windows 64 bit also? Or can i get just regular windows? For the most compatbility buy the regular Windows XP. You can try Windows XP 64-bit but not all hardware has 64-bit comaptible drivers and not all software is guarenteed to work in its 32-bit emulation mode. There is some 64-bit native software but not much. I expect that Windows XP 64-bit OS is just a stopgap with all new development geared towards the new Windows Vista (longhorn) due out December 2006. 3. I've never seen an amd that had a clock speed of over like 2.5ghZ. will these be fast enough for me? Don't be fooled by the clockspeed alone. The relative speed is governed by many things as how much work is done per clock cycle. Some apparent increase in speed (to a point) can be seen by adding more internal cache to the CPU. Since the Athlon XP AMD has been using Performance Ratings (PR) for their CPU's. For instance an Athlon 64 3400+ at 2.2 GHz is roughly comparible to a Intel P4 at 3.4 GHz. Even Intel is now numbering their CPUs with PR type ratings. Things get complicated when some CPUs get a higher PR number either because it has more cache or because it has multiple cores. An Athlon 64 4000+ at 2.4 GHz is as fast or faster than any stock Intel P4 CPU.

The information that egkenny has provided is true. From personal experience, AMD processors are a much better buy, especially for gaming. As egkenny states, and AMD Athlon 64 3400+ @ 2.2GHz is roughly equal to a P4 @ 3.4 GHz. That is why most games for PC will state "Pentium IV 1.5GHz or Athlon XP 1500+ processor (From Doom 3). The P 4 is clocked at 1.5GHz, but the AMD is around 1 GHz. AMD's are more cost effective as well. Zion

Yeah the above information is true but the only thing with AMD's is that they have no cache memory even though they are so fast and they can't really be clocked because they are already running at maximum speed. I would advice you to buy and AMD 64 no less!!