Discrete graphics card sales hit four-year record despite soaring memory prices — AMD gains market share as notebook graphics carry the market
Shipments of standalone graphics processors for PCs grow sequentially and year-over-year amid shortage of components and increased prices.
Graphic processor sales for consumer PCs reached a four-year record in the second quarter of 2026 while memory prices surged due to component shortages, according to a report by Jon Peddie Research. Although personal computer central processing unit (CPU) shipments decreased year-over-year in Q2 2026 due to seasonality and shortages, standalone graphics processor sales for consumer computers rose by 12.2% sequentially and 14.1% year-over-year, marking the market's best performance in recent times.
Total sales of graphics processing units (GPUs) for consumer PCs, encompassing integrated and standalone GPUs for desktops and laptops, amounted to 75.5 million units in Q2 2026, an increase of 10.4% quarter-over-quarter and 1.1% year-over-year. This surge was primarily driven by notebooks, with desktop GPU shipments falling by 4% quarter-over-quarter and notebook GPU shipments climbing by 16.8%.
Notably, despite the declining desktop PC unit shipments and modest growth in notebooks, discrete GPU shipments experienced a 12.2% sequential increase and a 14.1% year-over-year growth in Q2 2026, as per JPR's estimates. Around 20 million discrete GPUs were sold by AMD, Intel, and Nvidia in Q2 2026, based on attach rates and Nvidia's market share dynamics.
The results demonstrate that demand for PCs with discrete graphics remained remarkably strong despite soaring component prices and slowing demand for desktop PCs. However, JPR's shipment data does not specify whether the growth was mainly driven by gamers purchasing graphics cards, increased demand for gaming notebooks, or other factors.
Dr. Jon Peddie, President of Jon Peddie Research, mentioned that while the second quarter typically sees a decline compared to the previous quarter, discrete GPUs still saw a 12.2% increase this quarter, even as a global memory crisis drove component prices higher due to a combination of supply-side positioning, artificial demand shocks, and localized market dynamics.
JPR has not yet released its complete desktop AIB report, which is expected later this month and will contain market share figures for AMD, Intel, and Nvidia; however, it is likely that Nvidia will continue its prevailing leadership. In the consumer PC GPU market, Intel maintained its leading position with a 56% market share, as it increased consumer CPU shipments in Q2 2026.
Nvidia occupied the second spot with a 23% market share, which is still solid considering its discrete GPU sales. AMD secured the third position with a 21% market share, up significantly from 14% in the same quarter a year ago, as it achieved a seven percentage point increase in the consumer GPU market YoY, thanks to growing sales of its consumer CPUs.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Hardware's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
