Clayton wrote:
I know from running 32bit SUSE 10.1 on both AthlonXP and a wide variety of Athlon64 based processors (Sempron64, Athlon64, Turion64) that the Athlon64 based chips perform better. In both compiling source and in encoding video and audio (the heaviest tasks I do on my notebook and home PC).
Just to throw in another 2 cents... I recently moved from an AthlonXP to an AMD X2 64. Where I notice the biggest difference is when I'm doing something that maxes out the first CPU. When it pegs at 100%, I still have a whole other CPU to deal with other tasks... so I still have a completely responsive system rather than the sluggish "feel" that the AthlonXP used to exhibit when the single CPU was "pegged". Ok, obvious I know, but worth stating that little feature. Granted on day-to-day stuff it's essentially impossible for me to see a difference (for example opening a terminal window).
C.
Of course, that X2 64 makes for a fast game of solitaire! ;-)