Intel Makes a Comeback in Amazon’s CPU Rankings, But AMD Still Reigns Supreme
The Key Insight: After an extraordinary stretch of dominance, AMD’s processors captured the entire top-10 list of best-selling CPUs on Amazon for 2025. However, Intel has recently re-emerged with two processors making their way back into the top ten for the first time in over a year.
Intel’s Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and Core i7-14700K have claimed the 6th and 9th spots, respectively, in a lineup predominantly filled with AMD’s Ryzen chips. Both of these Intel offerings are mid-range solutions priced at $255 and $312, respectively. The 270K Plus is part of Intel’s Arrow Lake Refresh series, while the 14700K hails from the Raptor Lake Refresh family.
The remaining processors in this coveted list are primarily from AMD’s Ryzen 9000, 7000, and 5000 series, with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D taking the top position.
For budget-conscious builders, the Ryzen 5 5500 comes in as the next best option at #2, outperforming pricier models such as the Ryzen 5 9600X, Ryzen 7 5800X3D, and Ryzen 7 7800X3D, which occupy the 3rd, 4th, and 5th positions, respectively. The Ryzen 9 9950X3D and Ryzen 5 7600X follow closely at #7 and #8, rounding out the top ten with the Ryzen 5 5600X firmly securing the last spot.
Interestingly, even in the top 20 CPUs, AMD continues to dominate with eight models, while Intel has managed to place two, marking a commendable resurgence for Intel in a landscape it has struggled to navigate in the past year.
AMD initially pushed Intel out of Amazon’s best-seller rankings back in November 2024, following a rocky launch of Intel’s Arrow Lake “Core Ultra 200” desktop series. Back then, the Ryzen 7 5700X took the lead, with Intel’s best-performing model, the Core i5-13600KF, lagging far behind in 12th place.
The resurgence of Intel’s processors can largely be attributed to the skyrocketing prices of DDR5 memory, driving many consumers to retain their DDR4 systems rather than invest in a complete overhaul. This trend has inadvertently favored the Core i9-14900K and Core i7-14700K, both of which offer support for DDR4, while AMD’s DDR5-exclusive models like the 9850X3D, 9950X, and 9900X begin to drop in rankings.
In summary, while AMD still dominates the landscape, Intel’s gradual return to prominence illustrates the ever-evolving dynamics of the CPU market, making it all the more intriguing for tech enthusiasts looking to build or upgrade their systems.