Worldwide CPU and GPU sales saw a significant surge in the first quarter, despite traditionally weak season.

In the first quarter of 2024, worldwide desktop Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) shipments reached 70 million units, and desktop CPU shipments increased by 33% compared to the same period last year, according to data from the analytical firm Jon Peddie Research. This significant growth marks the second-largest increase in delivery over the past two and a half decades. However, sequential CPU and GPU shipments declined, attributed to seasonal variations.

Jon Peddie Research forecasts project a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 3.6% for GPU sales over the 2024–2026 timeframe. By the end of this projected period, nearly 3 billion GPUs are expected to be used globally in PCs. In the next five years, the adoption of discrete GPUs in PCs will reach 22%, signalling that one in five computers will have a video card.

Overall GPU shipments, which include integrated graphics and discrete video cards for both desktop and laptop systems, have increased by 28% year-on-year. Desktop GPU deliveries fell by 7%, while laptop graphics showed a year-on-year increase of 38%.

Comparing the first quarter of 2024 with the previous quarter, the market share of GPUs from AMD (both discrete and integrated) decreased by 0.7%, Intel’s share increased by 0.3%, and Nvidia’s share increased by 0.4%. Overall, GPU shipments decreased by 9.9% compared to the last quarter: AMD saw a decrease of 13.6%, Intel 9.6%, and Nvidia 7.7%.

Sales in the first quarter are traditionally lower than in the last quarter of the previous year. Discrete graphics shipments fell by 12.4% compared to the previous quarter, representing a more significant than average drop of 11% observed over the past decade.

Moving on to desktop CPUs deliveries, it sequentially dropped, yet notably increased year-on-year. CPU shipments decreased by 9.4% compared to the previous quarter, but increased by 33.3% compared to the same period last year.

“Microsoft, AMD, and Intel are pushing AI PCs. AMD and Nvidia forecast growth in the second quarter, so there could be a surprise, and the traditional seasonality may change again. However, AMD and Nvidia’s forecasts also include deliveries for data centers. We expect Nvidia, which holds the market lead, to deliver over 2 million GPUs for data centers in 2024,” Jon Peddie, President of Jon Peddie Research, stated.

This post was last modified on 05/30/2024

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