64-Bit confusion

PS2 Main processor: MIPS R5900 CPU core, 64 bit

You simply havn't been spending enough money on your "personal" computers to realize that:

64 bit processors have been around since a long time, the MIPS R4000 ran the SGI Reality Engine and was 64bit. The (DEC/Compaq) Alpha was from stratch designed as 64 bit and was available just about the time Intel Pentiums (90mhz) were available. Both of these ran Unix, though Windows NT 4 (look at the install disc's directories) ran on these processor classes too. The (IBM/Motorola/Apple) PowerPC came out in 32 bit versions with a clear family path to 64 bit. It was in personal computers as a 64 bit CPU in 2003. It was also available in 1996 in a costly 64 bit version. And it's based on the Power series from IBM which were also 64 bit some time back. I'm sure the ARM and SH series have 64 bit cores somewhere too.

The fact is the X bit is a not always wholely accurate. The motorola 68000 processor had a 16bit memory bus interface, but internally dealt with instructions and data in a 32bit manner by doing 2 steps or more. This made the Macintosh seem better to programmers than the 8088 based PCs of the time. Conversely the PowerPC 604 had a wider memory bus (64bit) than it's core.

Your 64 bit AMD runs 64 bit instructions, but it's probably right now running only 32 bit instructions, and still working backwards compatible with 16 bit x86 instructions.

Anyway, you need to read up:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powerpc
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIPS_architecture
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DEC_Alpha

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1558605967/qid=1132150213/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-7811306-9341439?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

The Intel based processors are a lot diffrent, they are designed to be compatible with the 8086/8088 and maybe even the 4004. Backward compatibilty is a big curse to the world of electronics as far as development is concerned. The PS2 is backward compatible with the PSX (PSone) by using compatible instructions and not using Intel. In order for the Intel processors to catch up they would have to scrap x86 and it's backwards compabtility and rebuild the PC specification from the bottom. This would mean:
-New BIOS
-New Chipset Specs
-Massive work with (and by) Microsoft to make older programs compatible with the new processor.

This can't be done easily because the hardware and software are made by two diffrent companies (more if you include chips other than the CPU).

It should also be noted that the Nintendo 64 had a 64-bit CPU

thought better of it though as I watched 'em build em faster, but not stronger.
my first mistake was a refurbished Compaq with a lightning fast 32MB MEMORY ! ****, I could think and act faster than it could. It locked up so much and had errors left and right and I knew there wasn't another Compaq or Hp in my life.
I read up on the Intel/AMD and found for the money I wasn't missing anything by selecting the AMD 64 then added another GB of memory to handle whatever I decide to load in the future so it shouldn't antiquate too soon, although the processor is a dual-channel, I don't notice any differences but it sure is great knowing I've shed my windows95 horror and now have a worry free XP.
Thanks for your input and lol! I do have to watch those pesky kids.