AMD wins chip packaging wars

No, we're not talking about die size or silicon on insulator technology. We're talking actually packaging, the stuff made out of cardboard and plastic. AMD fanboys, gorge yourself on this email from INQ reader Jeff and crow to your friends.

I run a small computer boutique out of my bedroom. Over the past year, I have been ?multiplying my possibilities? on the Core 2 Duo train, from my top end gaming system, to my baseline home and garden PC. I thought it would be good to build an AMD machine for a change, using the new 690G chipset, and an energy-efficient Brisbane X2.

What did I learn?... AMD is, without question, the smarter choice.

Here is why: I know this is stretching it, but Intel boxed processors are a lesson in sucky packaging. I would know; being an insufferable pack rat, I have a barricade of core 2 duo boxes amassing in my bedroom. For someone who has to open these things frequently, it becomes a big deal... especially when you fingers are all chopped up from working with poorly designed motherboard IO plates.

With a Core 2 Duo boxed processor, you are presented with task of tearing a large hunk of plastic limb from limb. I strain with all my might, warping the static-sensitive enclosure to and fro, only for it to ejaculate 290 million transistors across my bed--ahem-- ?workshop?.

In contrast, this is how you open up an AM2 box: Take your box cutter and cut the serial bar stickers on the top or bottom. Slide out the little boxes containing the cpu and fan/heatsink from open package. Gently open CPU retaining package to remove CPU. Take five seconds to admire the simple, yet effective design.

The best part is, the little plastic retaining package is highly reusable. This means that it saves the world from packaging dumping, too.

So there we have it, the definitive answer. Quad core is all well and good, but what about ease of use? µ