Apple has been doing its best to debunk the so-called "megahertz myth," attempting to prove that clock speed alone is not indicative of overall system performance. Aided by Motorola's AltiVec technology and innovative cache design, the latest Power Mac G4 systems certainly buoy the company's assertions. Nonetheless, the megahertz gap between Apple computers and Intel-based PCs continues to widen, especially in the eyes of the average consumer. While the AIM (Apple, IBM and Motorola) chip alliance has been unsuccessful in pushing PowerPC architecture to the 1 GHz mark, Intel (Nasdaq: INTC - news) continues to debut processors with ever-higher clock speeds. The Pentium 4 now runs at speeds of 2.4 GHz, and speculation is rife that it could reach 3 GHz by year's end. Intel also has begun to utilize the .13 micron fabrication process and 300 mm wafers, resulting in more efficient chips and higher manufacturing yields at lower cost. In contrast, Motorola's current PowerPC roadmap calls for the current G4 implementation to reach speeds of "1 Ghz+," while the G5 architecture is slated to use the .13 micron process and attain clock speeds of "800 MHz to 2 GHz+."