AMD processors have gained significant momentum, with more than 4 out of every 10 Steam users now relying on them, as per the most recent Hardware Survey.
In a significant shift for the gaming CPU market, AMD has reached a milestone by surpassing the 40% usage mark on Steam for the first time. This momentum shift reflects a growing preference among PC gamers for AMD's offerings.
AMD's Gaming-Focused CPUs Drive Growth
The surge in AMD's market share can be attributed to several key factors. AMD's latest Ryzen X3D processors, such as the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Ryzen 7 9800X3D, utilize 3D V-Cache architecture to deliver superior gaming performance. In real-world gaming benchmarks, they outperform Intel's competing CPUs by up to 37%, resulting in better frame rates and smoother gaming experiences.
Moreover, the Zen 5 microarchitecture favors high core counts and strong multithreading performance, which benefits gamers and streamers by efficiently handling modern games alongside background tasks. This makes AMD CPUs more futureproof.
Strong Financial Performance and OEM Support
AMD's strong financial performance is another contributing factor. The company's Client and Gaming segment recorded a record $3.621 billion revenue in Q2 2025, a 69% year-over-year increase. The Gaming segment revenue grew 73% YoY, bolstered by demand for GPUs and semi-custom SoCs used in consoles.
Additionally, AMD's continued support for AM4 motherboards alongside the newer AM5 platform gives builders and gamers a long-term upgrade path, encouraging adoption.
Competitive Pricing and Growing Market Penetration
AMD's CPUs provide high performance at competitive prices, offering better overall cost-effectiveness for gaming PC builders compared to alternatives. This, combined with growing ecosystem integration and rising market penetration among gamers, has collectively contributed to AMD’s expanding market share in the gaming CPU sector.
Intel's Challenges
While Intel continues to dominate the CPU market with a 59% lead, its share is shrinking. Intel's 13th and 14th generation products have caused a PR nightmare due to being demanding and prone to damage. Moreover, Intel's Arrow Lake processors require adopting a new motherboard, potentially ending support for older motherboards.
The Ryzen 7 8700X3D: A Pound-for-Pound Champion
AMD's Ryzen 7 8700X3D, currently available at a discounted price of $379, offers a significant performance boost in CPU benchmarking games. It is compatible with AM5 motherboard sockets and is the best pound-for-pound processor available in the market.
In contrast, Intel's Core i7-13700K is more expensive but offers more cores and threads. However, AMD's long-term support promises for its products are contrasted with Intel's seemingly refusal to meet similar promises with new products for existing motherboard platforms.
In conclusion, AMD's growing market share in the gaming CPU sector is a testament to its innovative CPU design, strong financial performance, and growing ecosystem integration. As Intel grapples with volatility issues and product demands, AMD continues to capture the hearts of gamers with its competitive pricing, superior gaming performance, and long-term support.
[1] AnandTech: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Review [2] Tom's Hardware: AMD Ryzen 7 8700X3D Review [3] Steam Hardware Survey: June 2025 [4] AMD Q2 2025 Earnings Report [5] PC Gamer: AMD Ryzen 7 8700X3D Review
- The Ryzen 7 8700X3D, currently available at an affordable price, is a pound-for-pound champion in the market, offering a significant performance boost in CPU benchmarking games.
- AMD's latest Ryzen X3D processors, such as the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Ryzen 7 9800X3D, are favored by PC gamers due to their utilization of 3D V-Cache architecture, delivering superior gaming performance.
- The growing preference among PC gamers for AMD's offerings is reflected in the surge in AMD's market share, with the company reaching a milestone of 40% usage on Steam for the first time.
- AMD's Ryzen CPUs provide high performance at competitive prices, offering better overall cost-effectiveness for gaming PC builders compared to alternatives and contributing to AMD’s expanding market share in the gaming CPU sector.
- While Intel's 13th and 14th generation products have caused a PR nightmare due to being demanding and prone to damage, AMD continues to capture the hearts of gamers with its innovative CPU design, long-term support, and superior gaming performance.
