Intel vs. AMD: Why the Market Share Number Is Misleading

AMD just reached a milestone in x86 client CPUs, topping 30% market share in the second quarter at 30.3%, up from 21.1% two years earlier, according to Mercury Research. Intel still leads with 69.7%, but is losing ground. The article stresses that the gains are occurring across desktops, laptops, and servers, yet also notes the desktop market shrank more than 20% last year due largely to higher memory prices—so it’s a share gain in a smaller pie rather than a demand surge. AMD’s data center revenue more than doubled to $6.7 billion and its server share rose to 34.5%. Intel’s lead persists due to customer lock-in.