30 MAXIMUMPC DECEMBER 2003
With tricks such as a full-speed, on-die memory
controller, 1MB of cache, and forward-looking 64-bit
support, AMD has shoved Intel out of the winner’s circle
with its Athlon 64 series of processors. Last month, we
tested the Athlon 64 FX-51 against a 3.2GHz Pentium 4,
and found that in areas where the Pentium 4 previously
reigned supreme, the Athlon 64 FX is now faster. What’s
more, early next year when Microsoft introduces its
64-bit version of Windows XP, you’ll load that baby on
your Athlon 64 FX system, and then rock with 64-bit
computing and all the gaudy memory support it has to
offer. But perhaps most significantly, we found that the
Athlon 64 FX could be purchased at stores a month ago,
whereas Intel’s latest—the Pentium 4 Extreme Edition—
has proved to be little more than vapor (as of press time,
at least).
The short story is that the 64 FX offers top-of-the-
line performance today, and will let you play with 64-bit
computing when your apps and OSes are ready for it
tomorrow. AMD made a bold gamble, and it’s paying off
for power users. $800, http://www.amd.comThen again: Although extremely difficult to obtain,
Intel’s Pentium 4 Extreme Edition does have its pluses: It
beats the FX-51 in some applications, and unlike AMD’s
latest, it doesn’t force users to throw away their current
mobos and memory just to upgrade.support, AMD has shoved Intel out of the winner’s circle
with its Athlon 64 series of processors. Last month, we
tested the Athlon 64 FX-51 against a 3.2GHz Pentium 4,
and found that in areas where the Pentium 4 previously
reigned supreme, the Athlon 64 FX is now faster. What’scomputing and all the gaudy memory support it has to
offer. But perhaps most significantly, we found that the
Athlon 64 FX could be purchased at stores a month ago,
whereas Intel’s latest—the Pentium 4 Extreme Edition—
has proved to be little more than vapor (as of press time,: Although extremely difficult to obtain,CPU
AMD Athlon 64 FX-
GAME CONTROLLER
Saitek P3000 Wireless Gamepad
Eight buttons? Check. A pair of analog sticks? Check. An
eight-way digital pad? Check. A pair of triggers? Check. All
the essentials are present and accounted for. But Saitek
had the good grace to make its gamepad wireless, so the
next time we fall out of our chairs, we won’t be taking
our PC down with us. The P3000 connects to its USB base
via a 900MHz radio connection, which means it doesn’t
require line-of-sight to work properly. And the thing that
really pushes the P3000 into the stratosphere is a pair
of rechargeable batteries. One powers your gamepad,
while the other recharges in the bus-powered charging
station. So no more gamus interruptus. If the power meter
indicates you’re running on a few spare electrons, just slap in
another battery and rock on.
$40, http://www.saitek.com, reviewed November 2003Serving suggestion: The best games to use with a gamepad are
those ubiquitous console ports. Try playing Tony Hawk 4 with a
keyboard and mouse, and you’ll want to gnaw your own hands off.