The increasing system requirements for modern PC games, coupled with the rising cost of computer components, are pushing many consumers towards more affordable gaming consoles. This shift, combined with persistent memory scarcity projected to last through 2026 and even 2027, has led to a significant downturn in interest for new PCs.
A recent analysis of Amazon USA’s sales figures highlights this trend: CPU sales in Q1 2026 were a staggering 47% lower than in Q1 2025. This dramatic reduction comes after a period where RAM prices tripled, or even quadrupled, with 32GB of DDR5 RAM jumping from approximately 100 euros to 300-400 euros. Even less performant modules, like 5600-6000 MHz CL40, are being sold at premium prices. This memory shortage is primarily driven by the enormous demand from the AI industry, which far outstrips current production capacity.
Amazon’s CPU Sales Drop Nearly 50% in Q1 2026 Following Memory Price Hikes
The sudden surge in component prices caught many consumers off guard, leading to canceled purchases, particularly for holiday gifts. Three months into 2026, the situation has shown little improvement; not only are RAM prices still exorbitant, but other components like graphics cards and SSDs have also begun to see price increases. Industry forecasts anticipated a more than 10% decrease in PC shipments for 2026, and Amazon’s latest CPU sales data, specifically for February of Q1 2026, confirm these concerns, showing a 47% year-over-year decline, as reported by 3DCenter.
These figures are consistent with January 2026, which saw 26,100 units sold. In contrast, December 2025 recorded 44,400 units, while November and October 2025 had sales ranging between 60,000 and 70,000 units. The highest sales volume was observed in June 2025, with 118,929 weekly units. This data is sourced from TechEpiphany on X, a recognized authority for tracking weekly processor sales from retailers like Mindfactory and Amazon.
Focusing on Amazon US, a total of 25,700 CPUs were sold. AMD maintained a dominant position, accounting for a massive 86.1% (23,000 units) with an average price of $281, showing little impact on its market share despite the current climate. Intel sold 2,700 units at an average price of $313.
Ryzen 5 5500 and Ryzen 7 9800X3D Lead CPU Sales
The sales distribution by platform has shifted, with AM4 processors representing 39% of sales and AM5 processors at 47.2%, indicating a growing demand for older, more budget-friendly CPUs. Surprisingly, the Ryzen 5 5500, an entry-to-mid-range processor, emerged as one of the top sellers with 4,000 units sold. This reflects consumers’ increased focus on cost-saving during the current crisis of high memory and component prices. The high-performance Ryzen 7 9800X3D also performed strongly, matching the 5500 with 4,000 units sold.
Following closely, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D and Ryzen 7 5800XT each sold 2,000 units. In the next tier, with 1,000 units sold, were the Ryzen 5600, Ryzen 5 9600X, Ryzen 5 7600X, and Ryzen 9 9950X3D. Intel’s presence was notably smaller, with its Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and Core Ultra 9 285K leading for the blue team, each selling approximately 500 units.
