We'd need to see a comparison between a highly Oc'ed P4 dual core and a similar X2 setup, before anyone could say anything about that.
The AMD chip costs more because:
1)It performs better
2)It uses less power
3)It produces less heat.
The Intel chip which is a fairer comparison is actually slightly more expensive. AMD just don't have a Dual core part to match it. I guess they could release one (at 1.8Ghz maybe?) but I guess they have their reasons for not doing so.
Which would mean gaming would not be limited to 2.8ghz.
Well that's just a stupid statement. It's possible to overclock an AMD chip too you know. YES a 4.6Ghz dual core Scotty would probably beat a Dual core A64 at 2.2Ghz... But if the AMD chip also gets overclocked then Intel's no longer a winner, although it obviously depends on the ocing ability of the chips concerned.
We simply don't know. You think the P4's a great deal, then buy one. Who cares? If I was looking at a dual core system then I'd have to see how much heat it puts out, and weigh in the pricing difference (DDR2 anyone?), but I'd still look at it with an open mind.
The commonly overlooked thing in these stupid circular debates is the fact that performance isn't everything. A prescott P4 generates more heat and consumes more power than an equivalently performing A64. This means either more <i>noise</i> for the same performance level, or more <i>money</i> for the same performance level. If you can find <i>any</i> information that proves either of those two facts to be wrong, I'll happily admit defeat.
---
<font color=red>"Life is <i>not</i> like a box of chocolates. It's more like a jar of jalapeńos - what you do today might burn your a<b></b>ss tommorrow."