78% vs. 21%: AMD Widens the Gap with Intel in the CPU Race

March 2025 CPU sales on Amazon confirm a trend that’s been years in the making — AMD is pulling even further ahead of Intel. According to analysts, Team Red now holds a commanding 78.7% market share, while Intel lags behind at just 21.3%.

The best-selling processor was the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, powered by 3D V-Cache technology, with over 6,000 units sold. But just as noteworthy is the surprising success of the budget-friendly Ryzen 5 5500. Despite its age, it secured second place with more than 3,000 units sold. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D achieved similar numbers, reinforcing the strong demand for high-efficiency gaming CPUs.

Intel’s presence in the top 10 was minimal, with only two models making the cut: the Core i5-12400F (around 3,000 sales) and the Core i7-12700K (just over 1,000 units). The latter remains a solid mid-range choice thanks to its 12 cores and an attractive $234 price tag. However, Intel’s latest Core Ultra 200S series failed to gain traction — its flagship, the Ultra 7 265K, sold only 500 units.

Experts attribute AMD’s success to its flexible strategy. By simultaneously supporting both AM4 and AM5 platforms, the company caters to a wide range of users — from budget-conscious buyers looking for a six-core chip to enthusiasts chasing high-end performance. Meanwhile, the new Ryzen 9000 series (without 3D V-Cache) and Intel’s Core Ultra 200S chips have struggled to match their predecessors’ popularity.

The current market dynamics highlight a clear consumer preference for the best price-to-performance ratio. As AMD continues to balance innovation with long-term platform support, Intel will need to rethink its budget segment strategy if it hopes to close the gap.