The answer is yes and no. Yes, you can use an AMD Athlon processor, as Athlon processors use the x86 architecture that the Intel Pentiums are based off of. Thats why to the uninitiated an AMD based computer using Windows XP and and an Intel computer using Windows XP seems pretty much identical when attempting to interface with them.
Can you plug an AMD processor into an Intel Board (an example would be plugging an Athlon Processor into a Dell-based computer) the anwer is no; Athlon processors, while using the same architecture, are implemented differently. Motherboards are usually created to support a socket type which is based on which family of AMD or Pentium processors you wish to use. And even then, some Athlon Processors won't fit in some AMD motherboards. An Example would be: Can I plug an Athlon XP (Socket A) processor into an Athlon64 based board? No, because Athlon64's use Socket 939.
Last edited by TheFever; Nov 26, 2005 at 06:37 PM // 18:37..
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