Intel significantly strengthened its position in the desktop processor market in the third quarter of 2026. Its share rose to about 70%, while AMD again fell below 30% for the first time in several quarters, according to data from research company Mercury Research.
Image source: Intel
According to statistics that leads PC Gamer, AMD’s share of desktop x86 processor shipments fell from 34.9% in the second quarter to 29.9% in the third. Accordingly, Intel increased its presence from 65.1 to 70.1%. Analysts estimate a change of about five percentage points – a surprising result after AMD’s continued strengthening of its position.
Mercury Research analysts cannot yet clearly explain the reasons for this reversal. According to one version, the reduction in demand for mobile processors allowed Intel to direct more products to the desktop segment. Previously, the company experienced difficulties with the supply of chips for PCs, and the third quarter is traditionally accompanied by a seasonal increase in orders from computer manufacturers.
Another factor analysts call AMD’s dependence on the gaming market. The company offers some of the most powerful gaming processors, but demand for new gaming PCs is hampered by a shortage of video cards and high component prices. As a result, the decline in purchases of expensive gaming systems could have a stronger impact on AMD’s supply than Intel, which maintains a significant presence in off-the-shelf mainstream computers.
Back in the second quarter, AMD increased its share of the client x86 processor market to a record 30.3%, strengthening its position in both the desktop and mobile segments. At the same time, the desktop CPU market was already experiencing serious difficulties: their supply volume decreased by more than 20% compared to the same period of the previous year.
The new indicators reflect the distribution of processor supplies between manufacturers, and not the preferences of buyers when assembling computers themselves. Therefore, an increase in Intel’s share does not necessarily indicate an increase in the popularity of its processors among gamers. Mercury Research considers changing supply patterns and weak demand for gaming PCs as possible reasons for the incident.
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