Graphics processors, stand-alone discrete devices, and embedded processor-based GPUs are ubiquitous and essential components in all systems and device today from handheld mobile devices, PCs, and workstations, to TVs, servers, vehicle systems, signage, game consoles, medical equipment, and wearables. New technologies and semiconductor manufacturing processes are taking advantage of the ability of GPU power to scale. The GPU drives the screen of every device we encounter-it is the humane-machine interface.
Jon Peddie Research (JPR) has just released a new report on the GPUs found in PCs.
The third quarter is typically the strongest in the seasonality cycles of the past and was above the 10-year average of 7.02%.
Quick highlights:
AMD's overall unit shipments increased 15.87% quarter-to-quarter,Intel's total shipments increased 5.08% from last quarter, and Nvidia's increased 21.39%.
The attach rate of GPUs (includes integrated and discrete GPUs) to PCs for the quarter was 138%, which was up 1.24% from last quarter, and 29.95% of PCs had discrete GPUs, which is up 3.51%.
The overall PC market increased 7.55% quarter-to-quarter, and decreased -8.94% year-to-year.
Desktop graphics add-in boards (AIBs) that use discrete GPUs increased 27.59% from last quarter.
The third quarter is, on average, usually up from the previous quarter, and the PC industry seems to have recovered its seasonal rhythms after the economic shock of 2009 to 2011. The 10-year average to 7% and makes the 9% this year above average.
Since a GPU goes into every system before it is shipped, GPUs are traditionally a leading indicator of the market. Most of the PC vendors are guiding cautiously for Q4 '15.
The Gaming PC segment, where higher-end GPUs are used, was a bright spot in the market in the quarter. Nvidia's new high-end Maxwell GPUs sales were strong, lifting the ASPs for the discrete GPU market.
The Quarter in General
AMD's shipments of desktop heterogeneous GPU/CPUs, that is, APUs, increased 15.0% from the previous quarter, and were down -1.0% in notebooks. AMD's discrete desktop shipments increased 33.33% from last quarter, and notebook discrete shipments increased 17.6%. The company's overall PC graphics shipments increased 15.9% from the previous quarter.
Intel's desktop processor embedded graphics (EPGs) shipments increased from last quarter by 6.9%, and notebooks increased by 4.2%. The company's overall PC graphics shipments increased 5.1% from last quarter.
Nvidia's desktop discrete shipments were up 26.35% from last quarter; and the company's notebook discrete shipments increased 14.1%. The company's overall PC graphics shipment increased 21.4% from last quarter. Nvidia had an exceptionally strong quarter.
Total discrete GPU (desktop and notebook) shipments from the last quarter increased 21.86% and decreased -15.69% from last year. Sales of discrete GPUs fluctuate due to a variety of factors (timing, memory pricing, etc.), new product introductions, and the influence of integrated graphics. Overall, the CAGR from 2014 to 2017 is now -4%.
Ninety-nine percent of Intel's non-server processors have graphics, and over 66% of AMD's non-server processors contain integrated graphics; AMD still ships integrated graphics chipsets.
Because graphics chips (GPUs) and chips with graphics (IGPs, APUs, and EPGs), GPU shipments are a leading indicator for the PC market. At least one and often two GPUs are present in every PC shipped. It can take the form of a discrete chip, a GPU integrated in the chipset or embedded in the CPU. The average has grown from 1.2 GPUs per PC in 2001 to almost 1.55 GPUs per PC.
In order to understanding the complex PC industry, it is very helpful to have an understanding of the dynamics of the GPU market and understand its future direction.
JPR’s findings are included in “Jon Peddie Research’s Market Watch,” and include discrete and integrated graphics (CPU and chipset) for Desktops, Notebooks (and Netbooks), and PC-based commercial (i.e., POS) and industrial/scientific and embedded. This report does not include the x86 game consoles, handhelds (i.e., mobile phones), x86 Servers or ARM-based Tablets (i.e. iPad and Android-based Tablets), or ARM-based Servers. It does include x86-based tablets, Chromebooks, and embedded systems.