Intel launched its 64-bit processors in 2005, but AMD has been trumpeting 64-bit
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computing since 2003. With or without Windows XP Professional x64, Athlon 64 processors are powerful and relatively cheap.
AMD is well known for changing processor cores on a regular basis. We tested the Athlon 64 3000+, 3200+ and 3800+ made using the latest Venice core, and a 3500+ using the older Newcastle core for comparison. The chief advantages of the Venice core are a more efficient 90nm process and the addition of the SSE3 instruction set. Our tests revealed the disadvantage of the older core. The Newcastle 3500+ was closer in performance to the Venice 3200+ than to the 3800+ so, unless you find a Newcastle processor on sale for a low price, we recommend you get a Venice chip.
AMD's processors are easy to overclock. Even using the standard AMD cooler, we managed to overclock the £129 Athlon 64 3200+ from 2GHz to 2.3GHz, giving it performance on a par with the £234 Athlon 64 3800+. It scored 94 in our video-editing test before overclocking and 108 afterwards.
