the same way a mac can run at 500 or 600 mhz and still be way faster than most pc's. IMO amd chose a better platform. I'm sure in the future people will program to use whatever p4 has but until then it doesn't make sense to shell out for their top processors. the next athlons about to come out will probably be very impressive compared to intels.
L.A.N.C.E.: Lifeform Assembled for Nocturnal Calculation and Exploration "What a beautiful life this could be; if I could just get it right" Vallejo