CPU sales on Amazon plummet as AMD strengthens its dominance

The start of 2026 is proving particularly tough for the desktop computer market. After a few years marked by ups and downs, with a strong surge in PC purchases during the pandemic and a subsequent cooling-off period, the Latest CPU sales statistics on Amazon reflect a very sharp drop which worries both manufacturers and advanced users.

Data compiled by several analytics firms shows that, although Processors are not the component that has become the most expensive. Yes, they are fully suffering the consequences of the price increases of other key PC components, especially the RAM memory and storage. That perfect storm. has led many consumers to postpone the renewal of their equipment, despite the arrival of new generations of CPUs.

CPU sales on Amazon: historic collapse at the beginning of 2026

The figures from Amazon US, taken as a benchmark to measure the evolution of processor sales They paint a very different picture than a year ago. In January 2026, around [number] were sold. 26.100 CPUs between AMD and Intel , a volume that represents a drop of approximately one 59% compared to January 2025 , when they approached 63.000 units.

The downward trend is not an isolated event of just one month. A change in the cycle was already noticeable by the end of 2025: in In December 2025, CPU sales were 46% lower than in December 2024. This confirms that demand had been cooling for some time. In absolute numbers, sales have fallen from over 80.000 units just over a year ago to just over a third of that now. a sudden stop that's hard to ignore .

Some general estimates for the sector even speak of a a near 50% year-on-year drop in the overall processor market at the beginning of 2026, based on the behavior of major online retailers and specialized chains. Amazon's snapshot, which handles a very significant volume of hardware, serves as a clear indicator of what is happening.

This decline in sales is not accompanied by a similar drop in CPU prices; quite the contrary: average selling price (ASP) of processors has increased sharply In one year, the price has risen from just over $220 to around $300. In other words, far fewer units are being purchased, but on average, they are considerably more expensive.

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AMD dominates market share on Amazon while Intel loses ground

Looking at the distribution by brand, AMD's dominance on Amazon is overwhelming. Data from January 2026 on the US marketplace indicates that Around 88% of CPUs sold are Ryzen processors leaving Intel with a meager 12%. This is a very wide gap considering the historical rivalry between the two companies.

In terms of units, this translates to AMD having placed around 23.000 CPUs in the month , compared to some 3.000 units sold by Intel The advantage isn't just in volume: it also extends to revenue, as Ryzen processors are positioned in very varied price ranges and cover everything from entry-level systems to enthusiast configurations. capturing almost all the business generated by the sale of processors on this platform .

This situation is not limited to the US online channel. In Europe, leading PC retailers, such as the German company Mindfactory, have been showing signs of slowing down for some time. strong buyer preference for AMD CPUs At some recent times, Mindfactory's sales listings have recorded over 90% market share for Ryzen models, leaving Intel below 10%.

The context doesn't help the Santa Clara company either. Intel's latest generations of processors have not quite convinced. A large portion of the enthusiastic public is cautiously awaiting upcoming releases to decide if it's worth making the switch. Meanwhile, AMD has managed to maintain a broad product range, with several families coexisting and covering different budgets.

Best-selling models: between the high-end range and the return of veteran CPUs

Within AMD's catalog, Amazon's sales listings place the latest models in the Ryzen family with 3D cache at the top, where The Ryzen 7 9800X3D remains one of the flagship processors for gaming and demanding use. Even so, its weight in the overall market has lost some prominence compared to previous months, now hovering around a fifth of the store's CPU sales .

What's striking is that, below that flagship, Processors based on earlier architectures have been gaining ground. The Ryzen 7 5800XT, for example, has positioned itself very prominently, with double-digit percentages within Amazon sales and volumes that rival the most modern models of the new series.

They also appear at the top of the CPU ranking as the Ryzen 9 9950X3D or Ryzen 5 9600X focused on the high and mid-range respectively, but what really stands out is the good performance of even older chips: Previous generation Ryzen 5 processors, such as the 3600 or 5500, have experienced a resurgence. in units sold. These are processors that, despite their age, continue to offer very respectable performance for gaming and work.

In the positions immediately below are other Zen 4 and Zen 5 models, such as the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, Ryzen 7 7700X, Ryzen 9 9900X or Ryzen 5 7600X which completes the horrendous picture of AMD's sales. For the user, this diversity translates into a wide range of options, although the The purchase decision is heavily influenced by the cost of the rest of the equipment .

To find references to Intel in these lists, you have to go quite a few steps down. Models like the The Core i9-12900K, the Core Ultra 7 265K, and the Core i5-12600K each only add up to a few hundred units. This is a very modest share compared to AMD's best-sellers. Overall, Intel's entire catalog on Amazon represents only a fraction of the sales its rival achieves with just a few Ryzen models.

RAM and SSDs, the real brake on CPU sales

The collapse in processor sales is not so much explained by what has happened with the CPUs themselves as by the general increase in the price of the rest of the PC components In recent months, the prices of RAM, both DDR5 and DDR4, have skyrocketed, as have many solid-state drives and graphics cards.

One of the reasons analysts point to is the massive demand from data centers and artificial intelligence projects These companies have absorbed a considerable portion of the production of memory and fast storage. For home users, this translates into less available stock and, in many cases, significantly higher prices, making it much less attractive to build a new PC or upgrade an existing one.

This context coincides with a generational change in the hardware platform Most computers currently used in homes and offices run on DDR4 memory and PCIe 4.0 graphics cards, while the latest generations of CPUs, from both AMD and Intel, support DDR5 and newer interconnection standards. When buying a modern CPU, the user is obliged to Also consider upgrading the motherboard, RAM, and even replacing the GPU. .

With RAM memory tripling in price in some models, the mid-range and high-end graphics cards at less accessible levels And with SSDs becoming more expensive, the budget for upgrading a PC skyrockets. For many, the most reasonable option right now is to do nothing: keep their current equipment a little longer or, in case of a breakdown, resort to older components that allow you to continue using DDR4 and reuse some of the hardware.

All of this has triggered a domino effect: by slowing down RAM and GPU purchases, processor and motherboard upgrades are also slowing down. CPU sales are thus suffering a drop that, in reality, originates outside the processor segment itself, in a ecosystem of soaring prices that discourages complete equipment renewal .

The rebirth of the AM4 platform and the second youth of Zen 3

Amid this situation, AMD's veteran AM4 platform, based on DDR4 memory, He is experiencing a kind of second youth Far from disappearing, it remains very present in the sales charts and has become a refuge for those looking to stretch their budget without sacrificing more than acceptable performance.

Processors like the The Ryzen 7 5800X and its 5800XT version are shining brightly. Driven by their good balance between power, consumption, and price, and by the fact that they can take advantage of DDR4 memory modules that are much cheaper than DDR5. These 8-core, 16-thread chips, based on the Zen 3 architecture, have become favorites among many users who build or upgrade mid-to-high-end PCs.

Reports from international retailers indicate that, during the last month analyzed, The Ryzen 7 5800XT achieved very respectable shipment volumes, approaching 3.000 processors sold on Amazon. in the same period that the Ryzen 7 7800X3D barely surpassed one million units. Although the absolute leadership remains with the 9800X3D, the The 5800XT's ability to compete with newer models It shows the extent to which the price marks the pause.

The film is similar in Europe. In specialist stores like Mindfactory, The Ryzen 7 5800X has reached the second position of best-selling CPU In certain weeks, it has matched or even surpassed some of the latest models. With just over a hundred units sold in only seven days, it demonstrates that the market doesn't always prioritize the latest releases, but rather what best suits the consumer's budget.

The paradox is that this renewed interest in AM4 comes after AMD has discontinued some of its best processors with 3D cache for this platform such as the Ryzen 7 5800X3D and 5700X3D. Their scarcity has left many users without the most powerful option within DDR4, pushing them towards models like the 5800X or 5800XT, which inherit that demand in the absence of alternatives.

A challenging year lies ahead for the PC market

With this cocktail of factors, everything points to the fact that 2026 will be a challenging year for the PC sector Demand for processors remains well below levels seen a year ago, and the prospects for a short-term recovery depend largely on moderating prices for memory, storage, and graphics cards.

In the field of CPUs, AMD starts with a clear advantage in market share and positioning Especially in the online channel, while Intel faces a transitional phase awaiting its next releases to regain appeal among enthusiasts. However, even with new products on the market, sales will struggle to take off if the rest of the hardware remains so expensive.

For users, the current scenario encourages a careful review of the options. Those who already own a relatively modern PC may decide to extend its lifespan even further, while many others will opt for reuse platforms like AM4 or opt for processors from previous generations which allow you to build capable systems without venturing into the realm of DDR5 and the most expensive graphics cards.

The processor market is thus entering a stage in which Purchasing decisions will be dictated less by raw power and more by the balance between total system cost and actual needs. If RAM, SSD, and GPU prices don't correct in the coming months, it wouldn't be surprising if the sharp declines in CPU sales seen on Amazon and other major retailers become the norm for the entire year.