RAM Price Surge: Intel CPUs Stage a Surprising Comeback in Latest Steam Survey
Since the introduction of the Zen architecture, AMD has steadily eroded Intel’s long-held dominance in the CPU market, pushing the split close to parity. However, the January 2026 Steam Hardware Survey indicates a notable shift: Intel’s share has stabilized and begun to climb again.
While the movement is modest in percentage terms, it represents a meaningful change in momentum across Steam’s massive global user base.
📊 The Numbers: A Change in Direction #
After several consecutive months of decline, Intel’s CPU share increased to 56.64%, marking a +0.25% month-over-month gain. AMD, by contrast, slipped 0.19% during the same period.
On a platform the size of Steam, even fractions of a percent reflect millions of systems, making this reversal particularly noteworthy.
💸 Why Intel Is Regaining Share #
Several converging factors appear to be driving budget-conscious builders back toward Intel platforms in early 2026.
Memory Prices Are the Key Driver #
A global memory supply crunch has pushed DDR4 and DDR5 prices up by roughly 40–50% since late 2025, dramatically reshaping platform economics.
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AMD Platform Pressure
Modern AMD builds now effectively require the AM5 platform with DDR5 memory, making entry-level and mid-range systems significantly more expensive. -
Intel’s Platform Flexibility
Intel’s 13th- and 14th-generation Core platforms—particularly with mainstream chipsets like B760—continue to support DDR4, allowing builders to reuse existing kits or purchase far cheaper memory.
This DDR4 compatibility has become a decisive advantage as RAM costs consume a larger share of total system budgets.
Aggressive Mid-Range Value Positioning #
While AMD’s X3D processors still dominate high-end gaming benchmarks, Intel has become highly competitive in the mid-range:
- Arrow Lake Discounts
Intel’s Core Ultra 200 (Arrow Lake) lineup has seen aggressive pricing adjustments. - Standout SKU
The Core Ultra 5 265K / 265KF has emerged as a price-to-performance standout in the ¥1,500 RMB ($200–$250) range, making it especially attractive for DIY gamers balancing performance and cost.
🎮 GPU Market: NVIDIA’s Grip Tightens #
The same Steam survey reinforces NVIDIA’s near-total dominance of the discrete GPU market.
| Vendor | Market Share |
|---|---|
| NVIDIA | 73.24% |
| AMD | 18.44% |
| Intel | ~8.00% |
RTX 4060 Takes the Crown #
The RTX 4060 has officially overtaken the RTX 3060, ending its three-year reign as the most popular GPU on Steam with a 4.36% share.
- The entire top 10 GPU list is now composed exclusively of NVIDIA models.
- AMD’s strongest presence remains older cards such as the RX 6600 and RX 7800 XT.
- The newer Radeon RX 9070 entered the survey with a modest 0.16% share, highlighting slower adoption.
🖥️ The “Average” Gamer PC in 2026 #
Steam’s aggregated data paints a consistent picture of mainstream gaming hardware:
- System Memory:
16 GB remains the dominant configuration (40.24%), as many users delay upgrading to 32 GB due to inflated RAM prices. - Display Resolution:
1920×1080 (1080p) continues to lead (52.59%), though 1440p adoption is gradually increasing. - Language Distribution:
English remains the most common system language (37.01%), followed by Simplified Chinese.
🌟 Final Takeaway #
The 2026 memory price surge has temporarily reshaped the CPU landscape. Intel’s continued DDR4 support and aggressive mid-range pricing have proven highly effective in a cost-sensitive market, allowing it to reclaim ground despite AMD’s architectural strengths.
Whether this rebound persists will largely depend on how quickly memory prices normalize—and how soon AMD can make its AM5 ecosystem more affordable for mainstream gamers.