In fact, in most tests, it beats the Intel chip. Intel may be big and slow to react, but it is also powerful. It knows what AMD did to it in the low-price market. AMD can't afford to get in a high-stakes poker game with Intel. That chip is Athlon.
Technology is a cruel marketplace.
The best technology does not always win. This may be a battle that AMD must win. AMD executives acknowledge that the success of Athlon is crucial to the company. If AMD does lose, and if losing breaks the company, Intel stands alone. Frankly, I prefer the Intel chip for reasons no more sophisticated than those a bass fisherman might have for selecting a blue crankbait.