Do the number of pins really matter?

[SideWinder]

I'm assuming that the more pins there are, the faster/better the capabilities of the CPU are?

But what about AMD having a 939 socket and Intel's C2D's having 775? Just down to a different architecture?

Explain it to me please.

 

[Snapshot]

The majority of those pins simply supply power to the CPU. Have a look at this document to see the pin-outs of a C2D.

 

[Jokester]

It's mainly because the A64 has the memory controller on the CPU rather than the NB.

Nehalem, Intel's first chip with an inbuilt memory controller will have 1366 pins.

Jokester

 

[silversurfer]

If anything its the oppisite, the smaller the chip & less pins the more compact and advanced the cpu might be said to be with lower power used and easier to overclock.

I think they are hoping to fit 8 cores and more on those 1366 pins