New AMD question, this time comparing opterons to each other

[yagga]

Does anyone know what this means: (taken from AMD's website)

AMD Opteron™ Processor for Servers and Workstations


The AMD Opteron™ processor, enabling simultaneous 32- and 64-bit computing, represents the landmark introduction of the AMD64 architecture. The AMD Opteron processor is designed to run existing 32-bit applications with outstanding performance and offers customers a simplified migration path to 64-bit computing. This evolutionary processor provides a dramatic leap forward in compatibility, performance, investment protection, and reduced total cost of ownership (TCO). The AMD Opteron processor is offered in three series: the 100 series (1-way), the 200 series (1 to 2-way), and the 800 series (up to 8-way).


I am wondering what the end means with the 1 way through 8 way, does this mean how many processors can be on the same system or is this how much stuff is able to be sent at a time? Also, I notice the 800 series seems to be 800+ dollars, and the 100 and 200's are in 250-600 dollar range. Is it completely pointless to buy the 800 even if you had loads of money if you just want a 2 processor system?

[GnomeWizardd]

8way = 8 processors i think 99% sure

[yagga]

okay, and it refers to 1XX as 0 coherent, 2XX as 1 coherent and 8XX as 3 coherent hyper transport (at least I think) at the same time. What does that mean exactly?

You know, come to think of it, I don't really know what that Hyper transport thing is anyway. How does that compare to pre Hyper Transport and how does it compare to Intel's ways?

Hmm... I guess my one last confusion is about when and what of AMD's cpus start changing the way they compare in Mhz or Ghz. I am just wondering... the durons and PIIIs pretty much line up (same clock speed = same performance) correct? And is it when Athlon XP's came out that they started improving efficiency and slowing down compared to P4s? All of the Operons would be similar to the XPs then correct, where a 1.4 Ghz Opteron would mean about 2200+? I don't know because they don't say the 2200+. Would this actually mean like a 1.4 Ghz P4 or better than it looks?
*I really don't know to much in-depth info about AMD's history