The gaming industry is constantly evolving, and staying up to date with the latest hardware and software trends is essential for gamers. One valuable resource that provides insights into the gaming market is the Steam Hardware Survey. While it may not be the definitive source of information, it offers a glimpse into the preferences of gamers. The results of the September survey have been released, shedding light on some interesting developments in the PC gaming landscape.
In a surprising turn of events, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 has claimed the top spot as the most popular GPU among those surveyed. It has dethroned the long-reigning GTX 1650, which now sits in second place. The RTX 3060 witnessed a substantial increase in market share, with a jump of 1.4% compared to the previous month. This impressive surge has secured it a significant 6.27% share of the overall market. The primary catalyst behind this shift is the notable drop in the price of RTX 3060 cards, which were once affected by the soaring demand during the cryptocurrency mining boom and the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite its newfound popularity, the RTX 3060 does not offer a significant performance boost over its predecessor, the RTX 2060. Nevertheless, it remains an attractive option for budget-conscious gamers, especially considering the enduring popularity of cards like the GTX 1060 and RTX 2060. It is likely to retain its position as a viable choice for quite some time, given its affordability and satisfactory performance. The rest of the GPU statistics confirm the dominance of Nvidia, with the RTX 4060 and RTX 4060 Ti expected to gain market share in the upcoming months and years, while AMD’s cards struggle to gain traction. Surprisingly, the most popular discrete Radeon GPU is the aging RX 580, which is a six-year-old card. The absence of the RX 7600 from the list is notable, but its inclusion in the future seems inevitable, considering its relatively low price point.
Despite the much-anticipated release of Windows 11, it has not made significant headway in the market. In fact, the September survey revealed that Windows 10 still holds a larger market share than its successor. This outcome is somewhat perplexing, as one would expect gamers to eagerly adopt the latest operating system. However, it appears that as long as Windows 10 continues to receive security and update support from Microsoft, gamers are content with sticking to the familiar and reliable option. The lack of a compelling reason to switch to Windows 11 seems to be a prevailing sentiment among gamers.
On the CPU front, there has been a notable increase in the number of systems equipped with 6-core CPUs, which now constitute nearly 36% of all systems. Concurrently, the prevalence of 4-core systems continues to decline, while the number of 8-core CPUs experienced a slight dip. This decline in 8-core CPUs can be attributed to the rise of Intel’s 12th and 13th Gen CPUs, which offer varying core counts, leading to an increase in systems with 10, 12, and 16 cores. Intel continues to dominate the market, with its CPUs being present in more than twice as many systems as those with an AMD CPU.
Additionally, the survey reveals an interesting trend in storage capacity. Over 55% of the surveyed systems were found to have more than 1TB of drive space. This increase can be attributed to the significant price drops in 1TB SSDs, making it more affordable than ever to add additional drives. As games continue to demand larger storage capacities, this trend is expected to persist. However, there is a growing need for Steam to introduce categories for drives with 2TB and above, as the demand for higher storage capacity continues to grow.
The Steam Hardware Survey offers valuable insights into the ever-changing landscape of PC gaming. The September results showcase the rising popularity of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 as the leading GPU, the persistent dominance of Nvidia over AMD, the lukewarm reception of Windows 11 among gamers, the evolving CPU landscape with an increase in 6-core systems, and the growing demand for higher storage capacities. While the survey may not be scientifically precise, its substantial user base provides a window into the current state of gaming preferences. As the industry evolves, these trends will continue to shape the future of PC gaming.
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