Why is the AMD CPU substrate so weak?

[RichieZ]

This may be a dumb question, but why can't AMD make a stronger CPU substrate so it won't break. I mean you barely ever hear of someone breaking a coppermine.

 

[DaddyG]

Coppermines have been broken as well. The issue is that because of the high heat output of the TBIRD, AMD requires higher clip pressure, 12-20lbs. If the hsf isn't held flat to the chip when the clip is fastened, the edge of the chip gets cracked.

 

[Rockhammer]

Yeah, in all hub bub over AMD's cracked and chipped cores, its been forgotten that there was once a lot of controversy surrounding busted coppermines. In fact, Intel's next coppermine stepping is going to include a metal heat spreader plate just like the older intel CPUs. I'd be surprised if AMD doesn't follow suit.

FYI, I have a guide to protecting the AMD cores up on my website. Hit the link in my sig and then link to "guides" to find it.