The AMD Athlon 64 FX 51 is impressive not just becuase it runs 64 bit code (which probably won't take a real foothold until probably 2005) but for how fast it runs 32 bit code. Intel has a 64 bit processor called the Itanium (I think that's the name) for 64 bit servers. Problem is, it supposevly only runs 32 bit code at a Pentium 2 level (not designed for it). The AMD 64 also has the memory controller built into the processor running at processor speeds, rather than behing seperate and only putzing along with the memory like older designed processors. Big onboard cache too. It's not just the same old Athlon XP that runs 64 bit code, it's the newest most powerful chip technology right now.

Hyperthreading isn't quite like having 2 processors, but allowing 1 processor to do two completely different things at one time. For example, if your calculating a floating point number and moving something through a bus, a HT enabled processor can do them at the same time. If you have two operations wanted access to the floating point calculation aspect of the processor, there is no performance benefit, one still has to wait. To really maximize the use of HT processors, the programs that use them must be optimized for them, so some older programs may not run any faster with HT.

I'm still waiting for more info about the P4 extreme edition. I've heard it's a 3.6Ghz P4 with a 2megs of L2 cache. Going to be pricey but should be impressive. Intel isn't being caught with their pants down either, they've got new technologies probably already ready for market. I've read that the nessicary hardware configurations for hyperthreading have been in place in Intel chipset specifications but never actually activated since the Pentium 3's. Intel just never needed a new hot technology for a sales boost so they just waited and attached to the 800 Mhz P4's.