Are Discrete GPUs Now a Novelty Item? Check Out JPR's Q2 Numbers
Are Discrete GPUs Now a Novelty Item? Check Out JPR's Q2 Numbers
Posted 08/24/2011 at 6:43am
| by Paul Lilly
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Intel's all-in with its Sandy Bridge platform, and AMD would rather talk about its Accelerated Processing Units (APUs) than anything else. And if you're building a rig for your mom and pop for Christmas (or Kwanzaa or Hanukkah or just in general), you're probably eying up one of these two platforms and won't consider a discrete GPU. Scenarios like this one might help explain why discrete GPU shipments are down.
According to market research firm Jon Peddie Research (JPR), discrete graphics card shipments fell 15.2 percent in the second quarter. JPR notes it isn't unusual for discrete GPUs to see a decline during this time of year, but the sector is underforming compared to last year and is 4 percent below the 10-year average for the quarter.
JPR didn't delve too much in to the how or why of it all, but as processors with integrated graphics continue to penetrate the market, expect to see more of this. Before Sandy Bridge and Fusion, a low-end discrete GPU prevented budget buyers from having to settle on a motherboard with an IGP, where sometimes the options weren't very good. Now that graphics have shifted to the processor, buyers are free to pick any board, as long as they match the socket.
Switching gears to market share, AMD swiped a 0.1 percent crumb from nVidia's slice of the discrete GPU pie, though AMD is down 0.8 percent for the year and Nvidia is up 1.1 percent. Nvidia now owns 59 percent of the discrete market and AMD 40.6 percent, according to JPR.
Image Credit: MSI
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axiomatic
August 24, 2011 at 1:45pm
I still refuse to buy a PC / Laptop without a discreet GPU. but then again, I can build a computer so I know what a discrete GPU is. Most "normals" dont know what a discrete GPU is or why they need it until you show them the performance of a PC with and without one.
Joe The Plummer
August 24, 2011 at 1:13pm
How - less people spending money on non-essential items
Why - The economy is in shambles. Unemployment is at it's highest in 30 years, anemic GDP growth, dollar is worthless.
As said below, previous gen can play all the games out now. A friend of mine has a GeForce 250 and is having no problems playing games. I have a 550ti which is more than enough to power Black Ops, Bad Company, Crysis at 1080p.
So looking at two years worth of potential upgraders staying pat is why discrete GPU sales are down.
US_Ranger
August 24, 2011 at 12:22pm
Maybe discrete GPU shipments fell because there are those of us out there that have last season's tech (5850) and have no trouble playing any of the latest games if we so desire. When games come out that stress dx11 cards then it will be time to upgrade. For some reason though it seems that games are stuck in dx9 mode. I'm guessing it's consoles but regardless, no need to upgrade means I'm going to save 200 bucks.
zepontiff
August 24, 2011 at 10:23am
No its because the last generation of cards can still run all the games because the shit console market has held back everyone.
someuid
August 24, 2011 at 2:23pm
Yeah, my thoughts exactly. DX9 games are exactly taxing our rigs these days.
Gezzer
August 24, 2011 at 7:52am
I think a question that needs to be asked is where do these new "APUs" fall in a comparison of all GPUs in their generation? I can't see them being any better then entry level discrete cards. So for a person that had no problems with an IGP in their last computer then an on die GPU makes sense. Other then for HTPC use I can't see any hardcore PC user going without a discrete card.
So yeah it'll most likely wipe out the entry level video card segment, but how big is it any way?
I'm more inclined to think the drop in sales has to do with the 28nm coming down the pike. I know I'm waiting to see those cards before I replace my HD4870.
praack
August 24, 2011 at 7:47am
I can agree, my last builds for my various family members all included decent discreet cards, including my mom's.
with replacements now coming up I will be moving to the amd APU platform for most of them except my one nephew due to the price/performance scale. Even for my nephew I might give him an APU and hybrif crossfire it- his gaming needs are'nt top of the line.
What will be interesting is what the discrete card outlook be in the future? I don't want it to go away - neither do I want to have the choices limited to top end 3-400 dollar cards or Graphics on a chip
PCLinuxguy
August 26, 2011 at 8:11am
not only that but the AMD APU platform sounds like it'll do pretty darn good. From the specs I read, an AMD 6770 is a decent discreet card that would be great for that hybrid setup with an A8-3850 APU without breaking the bank for a nice entry level system.
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