[CentOS] compaq r4000 /proc/cpuinfo reports 997 and should be 2400

Hi

I have a compaq R4000 with the 2.4GIG AMD 64 bit. 4000+ rated.
proc cpuinfo reports

cpu Mhz as 997.481

Do I have to run the 64 bit version to have things run correctly?
I just have the normal 4.2 loaded at this time.

The laptop seems slow for 4000+ as reflected by the cpu Mhz also.

Any thoughts on running the 32 bit version of 4.2 vs the 64 bit version 
of 4.2?

Jerry