AMD looks like a good fit for any market, so there must be valid reasons why AMD has not made more of a corporate impact. In seeking acceptance from the corporate market, AMD carries with it a lot of excess baggage. AMD processors like the K5 and K6 models were adequate products, but really failed to match the competition from Intel' s Pentium II, Pentium III or Celeron. Compatibility problems with motherboard chipsets, AGP issues, and poor system drivers resulted in a mindset that an AMD processor was not as powerful, compatible or stable as a competing Intel product. Although the realities of the CPU market have since changed, old habits die hard, and AMD continues to have a stigma associated with it.
Brand loyalty is also much higher in the corporate world.
Perceptions did change somewhat with the release of the AMD K7 Athlon, which for the first time surpassed the performance of a comparable Intel processor. The only fly in the ointment was AMD's quick shift to the Socket A format, which essentially orphaned the Slot A format and resulted in several motherboard chipset revisions as well. Another key factor is that Intel does not want AMD in the corporate market and uses its considerable muscle to maintain its advantage. Intel sales and industry reps create business relationships, mass market advertising builds brand recognition, and Intel includes promotional rewards based on overall vendor orders. Intel also makes their presence felt at even the smaller trade shows, which builds consumer confidence and awareness.