PC builders turn to older AM4 CPUs to dodge DDR5 RAM prices, latest Amazon sales stats suggest
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PC builders are starting to change direction, and the reason is simple. DDR5 memory prices have surged hard over the past few months due to the AI boom and heavy demand from data centers. To avoid these high costs, many builders are now turning back to AM4 platforms instead of moving to newer DDR5-based systems.
DDR5 RAM kits that once cost a hundred dollars are now selling for extreme prices. Some high-capacity kits are listed for over $1,500, and in certain cases, even over $2,000. This has made it difficult for PC builders to opt for DDR5-based systems. Even Micron pulled back from the consumer market to prioritize supplying memory for AI data centers, where margins are higher.
Zen 3 processors are almost as popular as Zen 5 in Germany
As a result, DDR4-based platforms are becoming attractive again, and AM4 sits right at the center of that shift. AM4 supports affordable DDR4 memory and still offers strong performance, especially with Zen 3 processors (the Ryzen 5000 series). According to recent stats shared by TechEpiphany on X, Zen 3 is now on track to become the top-selling CPU architecture once again, years after its original release. In fact, even AMD is expected to start making Zen 3 processors again to meet growing demand.
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The breakdown of CPU retail sales on Amazon Germany shows how strong this trend is. Zen 3 accounts for 33.6% of total units sold, putting it very close to Zen 5 in unit share. Zen 5 (Ryzen 9000 series) still leads in revenue because of its higher prices, but Zen 3’s volume clearly shows builders are prioritizing value. Zen 4 (Ryzen 7000 series) sits behind both, while older AM4 architectures like Zen 2 and Zen+ barely made any sales, understandably so. Intel’s newer platforms, including Arrow Lake and Raptor Lake, also make up only a small share of total sales.
A separate December 2025 sales report from Amazon Germany shows more details. AMD dominated CPU sales with 9,950 units sold, representing over 91% of total units and revenue. Intel sold just 900 units during the same period.
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