AMD's potential weakness versus Intel
I would love to sell AMD systems. I have always had great results with workstations and servers built around AMD processors. But...
From my perspective, AMD's weakness versus Intel is the fact that Intel is very vertical. They make the processors, the chipsets, the motherboards, and even full systems from the mobo to the backplane -- and the compatibility is guaranteed.
AMD, to my knowledge, does not make the boards. They make the chipsets (ATI,) but I have never seen an AMD motherboard. It is nearly impossible for me to spec out a fully AMD system with guaranteed compatibility. I have been bitten more than once by building AMD systems: discontinued chipsets (the nForce 4 was great, 5 not so much,) manufacturers disconnected from customers with approaches to customer service worse than Microsoft (yeah, we know about the bug, and we'll fix it... sometime... maybe.)
Eh, that is not to say Intel systems do not have problems. Compatibility with RAID controllers or video cards abound, but are mostly easy to over come.
Intel will next-day air a replacement motherboard under warranty; AMD, well, no motherboard and dealing with most manufacturers is painful at best.
In the end, an Intel system makes for a better experience for my customers. Sadly.
Paris, a better experience.