They dont need one socket type, or something like the am2/am3. AMD needed to do that for themselves to stay in the game and make sure they could grab a decent foothold in every area of the cpu market. Lets use some comparable sytems, a core2quad with ddr3 priced against a phenom x4. Relatively same benchmark scores(useing this vaguely) but amd has a better price point for the average buyer. Their socket types allow people with systems 2years old to upgrade to todays cpus, but up until this 965 they released the upgrade is moreso on par with core 2 quad which was released 7 seasons ago. Its a game of ketchup to bridge gaps. AMD will make a comeback, but not until they come with something a little more powerful than the i7 line, and I hope they do because I'll buy it.