AMD climbs in desktop and server CPUs while Intel battles supply squeeze
The Register
February 13, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
AMD continues to gain market share against Intel across desktop, laptop, and server processors, driven by Intel's supply constraints as it prioritizes server chip production. According to Mercury Research's Q4 2025 data, AMD now holds 36% of the desktop CPU market, up from 27% in the same quarter last year, while its mobile chip share rose to 26%, though Intel still dominates with 74%. Intel’s shift in manufacturing focus to server chips has led to shortages in client processors, resulting in a decline in overall x86 shipments during Q4—a rare drop for what is typically the highest growth quarter of the year.
AMD's success was particularly notable in the server CPU market, where its 5th Gen Epyc chips accounted for over 50% of revenue for the first time. This outpaced Intel’s own 5th Gen Emerald Rapids series, which became Intel’s best-selling server processors. Despite AMD’s gains, Intel still maintains a dominant 71% share in the server market, though AMD has closed the gap to 28.8%, an increase of nearly 3 percentage points from the previous year.
The situation underscores the competitive dynamics between AMD and Intel, with AMD capitalizing on Intel’s production reallocation and its own advancements in server CPUs. Meanwhile, Intel is working to stabilize its position with a simplified roadmap focused on server demand and client portfolio updates for 2026. The broader implications of these shifts are significant for the tech industry, as they influence PC and datacenter decisions globally.
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Originally published on The Register on 2/13/2026