# AMD’s Ryzen 9000 Series: A Steady Start and Its Influence on the CPU Market
The introduction of AMD’s latest **Ryzen 9000 series** processors, built on the **Zen 5 architecture**, was eagerly awaited by tech aficionados and gamers alike. Nevertheless, since its launch just over a month ago, the Ryzen 9000 series has been facing challenges in establishing a foothold in the market. This gradual acceptance is not only influencing AMD’s new processors but is also pushing up the prices of older models, creating a complicated scenario for both consumers and retailers.
## **A Gradual Start for Ryzen 9000**
According to various reports, including insights from the prominent YouTube channel **Hardware Unboxed**, the sales of the Ryzen 9000 series have been disappointing on a global scale. Retailers in different regions are reporting lackluster sales figures, with some even labeling it the “least successful Ryzen launch ever.”
### **Worldwide Sales Challenges**
– **Australian retailers** have indicated that each store sold fewer than ten Ryzen 9000 processors in the first month post-launch, contrasting sharply with the robust sales of prior Ryzen generations.
– In the **United States**, the outlook is similarly dreary. At **Newegg**, one of the foremost online platforms for computer components, only the **Ryzen 7 9700X** managed to penetrate the top 20 best-selling CPUs. This success is largely attributed to a promotional discount campaign that made the 9700X only slightly pricier than its predecessor, the Ryzen 7 7700X.
– Even in **Germany**, where AMD traditionally holds a strong market position, the Ryzen 9000 series is faltering. The Twitter/X user **TechEpiphany** frequently shares sales figures from **Mindfactory**, a significant German retailer, and the statistics reveal a sobering trend. In week 37, the **Ryzen 9 9950X** was the top-selling Zen 5 processor but only managed to secure the 24th position in the sales rankings. The leading 23 positions were occupied by older AMD processors and a selection of Intel models, such as the **Intel i7-14700K**.
### **Intel’s Unexpected Success**
Interestingly, despite recent reports detailing instability issues with Intel’s **Core i9-13900K** and **i9-14900K** processors, these models have outpaced the Ryzen 9000 series in sales. This indicates that Intel’s pricing and marketing approaches may resonate better with consumers, even when faced with technical obstacles.
## **Consequences for Older AMD Models**
The disappointing sales of the Ryzen 9000 series are causing a cascading effect on AMD’s earlier processor generations, notably the **Ryzen 7000 series**.
### **Price Hikes for Ryzen 7000**
As the demand for the Ryzen 9000 series remains stagnant, buyers are focusing on the **Ryzen 7000X3D** models, which have gained popularity among gamers due to their outstanding price-to-performance ratio. This shift in focus is resulting in increased prices for these older models. For instance, the **Ryzen 7 7800X3D**, which was selling for approximately **355 euros** a month prior, has surged to **405 euros**, according to pricing data from **Geizhals**.
This rise in pricing is making it more difficult for consumers to secure favorable deals on high-performance CPUs, as the more competitively priced and superior Ryzen 7000 models are becoming increasingly out of reach.
## **What’s Causing Ryzen 9000’s Struggles?**
Several factors are contributing to the disappointing sales of the Ryzen 9000 series, which aren’t necessarily tied to the processors’ quality.
### **Limited Performance Improvements**
One primary reason for the sluggish adoption of the Ryzen 9000 series is the lack of a significant performance enhancement compared to the previous generation. Although the Zen 5 architecture brings some advancements, they are not considerable enough to warrant the higher price point for many consumers. In several instances, the **Ryzen 7000 series** continues to provide a superior price-to-performance ratio, making it a more appealing choice for buyers.
### **Anticipating X3D Variants**
Another reason is that many gamers may be postponing their purchase of the Ryzen 9000 series, as they are waiting for the **X3D variants** of these processors. AMD’s X3D models, which include extra cache for enhanced gaming performance, have historically been well-received, and the upcoming Ryzen 9000 X3D models are anticipated to follow that trend. However, these variants are not expected to launch until early next year, leading many potential customers to simply wait for the next significant release.
## **AMD’s Self-Inflicted Quandary**
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