An Asustek executive said that Intel man not fully tra transition away from socketed processor packages on the desktop, as it has been rumored. Speaking t DigiTimes.com, Asustek Computer vice president and general manager of motherboard/desktop business Joe Hsieh said things "will not be as bad as people think," and Intel will likely find a way to keep offering both socketed and BGA chips.

Hsieh noted that even if Intel's BGA packaging plans enter the desktop industry, the industry will continue to live on as motherboard makers will figure out how to handle and respond to the change.

Desktop motherboards with BGA-style CPUs are currently available mainly in the Mini-ITX factor with Atom processors onboard.

A report last month said Intel would transition its desktop processors to BGA packages in 2014. Intel later responded to the speculation, saying it plans to continue offering socketed chips for the "foreseeable future." AMD also said it would continue offering socketed desktop CPUs through 2014.