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In Valve’s September 2026 Steam Hardware & Software Survey, AMD accounts for 47.41% of processor share among surveyed Windows users, while Intel remains ahead at 52.59%. AMD’s monthly change is +1.89 percentage points; Intel’s is −1.88 points. Windows 11 is the leading Windows version in the survey at 75.08%, although its share slipped 0.45 points for the month.
What does the latest Steam Hardware Survey say?
Valve’s September 2026 Steam Hardware & Software Survey reports the following figures. The processor comparison is for Windows users in the survey; the operating-system figures are shares within the Windows-version table.
| Measure | September 2026 share | Monthly change |
|---|---|---|
| AMD processors among surveyed Windows users | 47.41% | +1.89 percentage points |
| Intel processors among surveyed Windows users | 52.59% | −1.88 percentage points |
| Windows 11 among surveyed Windows users | 75.08% | −0.45 percentage points |
| Windows 10 among surveyed Windows users | 24.85% | not stated |
The monthly changes are percentage-point movements as shown by Valve, not percentage growth rates. This is a single reporting-month snapshot, so it does not establish that the same movement will continue.
Is AMD catching up to Intel on Steam?
AMD is closing the gap in the September snapshot, but Intel still has the larger reported share: 52.59% versus AMD’s 47.41%. The month’s changes point in opposite directions—AMD up 1.89 points and Intel down 1.88—but one month alone cannot show whether that shift is a durable trend.
#1 Best Overall
- The world’s fastest gaming processor, built on AMD ‘Zen5’ technology and Next Gen 3D V-Cache.
- 8 cores and 16 threads, delivering +~16% IPC uplift and great power efficiency
- 96MB L3 cache with better thermal performance vs. previous gen and allowing higher clock speeds, up to 5.2GHz
- Drop-in ready for proven Socket AM5 infrastructure
- Cooler not included
These figures describe processor-vendor configuration share in the survey’s Windows table. They are not CPU benchmark results, processor sales, or a measure of the whole PC gaming or CPU market. They also do not establish which vendor offers better performance or value.
How many Steam gamers use Windows 11?
Windows 11 represents 75.08% of the Windows-version share in Valve’s September 2026 survey, compared with 24.85% for Windows 10. Windows 11’s reported share fell by 0.45 percentage points from the preceding monthly comparison. The 75.08% figure applies to surveyed Windows users, not to all Steam users across Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Rank #2
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Gaming and Content Creation Processor
- Max. Boost Clock : Up to 5.7 GHz; Base Clock: 4.3 GHz
- Form Factor: Desktops , Boxed Processor
- Architecture: Zen 5; Former Codename: Granite Ridge AM5
What does the survey show about system memory?
Among surveyed Windows users, 32GB of system RAM is the largest reported category at 43.28%, up 4.81 percentage points for the month. The 16GB category is 37.60%, down 3.47 points. These are reported configurations, not a recommendation to upgrade. The figures do not specify whether the memory is in a desktop or laptop, its generation, or the number of modules.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to interpret these Steam figures
Valve says it conducts a monthly survey to collect data about the computer hardware and software its customers use, and that participation is optional and anonymous. That makes the report useful for tracking configurations among participating Steam users, but it should not be treated as a census of every Steam customer or PC gamer.
Rank #3
- Can deliver fast 100 plus FPS performance in the world's most popular games, discrete graphics card required
- 6 Cores and 12 processing threads, bundled with the AMD Wraith Stealth cooler
- 4.2 GHz Max Boost, unlocked for overclocking, 19 MB cache, DDR4-3200 support
- For the advanced Socket AM4 platform
For a stronger read on whether AMD’s share is steadily rising, compare several monthly reports using the same Windows processor-vendor table. The September result identifies the current gap and that month’s movement; it cannot by itself establish a long-term direction.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Pure gaming performance with smooth 100+ FPS in the world's most popular games
- 6 Cores and 12 processing threads, based on AMD "Zen 5" architecture
- 5.4 GHz Max Boost, unlocked for overclocking, 38 MB cache, DDR5-5600 support
- For the state-of-the-art Socket AM5 platform, can support PCIe 5.0 on select motherboards
- Cooler not included
Rank #4
- Processor provides dependable and fast execution of tasks with maximum efficiency.Graphics Frequency : 2200 MHZ.Number of CPU Cores : 8. Maximum Operating Temperature (Tjmax) : 89°C.
- Ryzen 7 product line processor for better usability and increased efficiency
- 5 nm process technology for reliable performance with maximum productivity
- Octa-core (8 Core) processor core allows multitasking with great reliability and fast processing speed
- 8 MB L2 plus 96 MB L3 cache memory provides excellent hit rate in short access time enabling improved system performance
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