The newly released hardware survey by Steam sheds light on the current trends in gaming hardware. While the wider market seems to have not fully embraced Windows 11 yet, gamers are showing a different story. In the survey conducted in December 2023, Windows 11 made some progress, with 44% of surveyed users on Windows 11 compared to 51% on Windows 10. Although Windows 11 still lags behind its predecessor in terms of market share, the steady increase suggests that it may catch up over time. Additionally, with the upcoming release of Windows 12 later this year, Windows 10’s dominance is expected to further decline in 2024.
One significant trend identified in the hardware survey is the increasing popularity of higher core count CPUs among gamers. While systems with six-cores or less still dominate the market, there is a noticeable shift away from dual and quad-core systems and laptops. These lower core count configurations are now primarily found in budget-friendly systems. With the rise of advanced gaming technologies and resource-intensive games, gamers are opting for CPUs with eight or more cores. In fact, systems with eight cores now account for over 20% of the overall market share, reflecting the increasing demand for higher processing power.
Another interesting observation from the survey is the changing landscape of RAM in gaming systems. The survey data indicates a decline in the share of systems with 8GB or less of RAM, while systems with 16GB of RAM are nearing the 50% mark. Although systems with 32GB of RAM experienced a slight decrease, this is likely due to the introduction of 48GB systems into the market. Furthermore, the availability of affordable memory kits and gaming laptops shipping with 16GB of RAM contributed to the overall trend of increasing RAM capacity in gaming systems.
Upgrading from 8GB to 16GB of RAM has become a cost-effective solution for users with older systems, especially as games become more demanding and multitasking becomes more prevalent. The shift towards higher RAM capacities is driven by the need for seamless gameplay and the ability to run resource-hungry applications alongside gaming.
The hardware survey also reveals an interesting development in the adoption of virtual reality (VR) headsets among Steam users. While the overall percentage of users with VR headsets is still relatively small at 2.24%, there has been a noticeable increase of 0.4% from the previous month, representing a month-on-month growth of over 20%. This suggests a growing interest in VR gaming experiences and the expanding availability of VR content.
In terms of graphics cards, there is little surprising information in the survey. Nvidia continues to maintain its dominance over AMD, with the RTX 40-series models not gaining significant traction. However, it should be noted that the introduction of RTX 4060 mobile graphics shows some potential for future developments in Nvidia’s product lineup.
It is essential to recognize that the Steam Hardware Survey provides a rough snapshot of market share rather than an all-encompassing view. Nonetheless, it offers valuable insights into the hardware preferences of gamers and their evolving needs.
The latest hardware survey by Steam highlights several key trends in gaming hardware. Windows 11 is gradually bridging the gap with Windows 10 in the gaming community. The demand for higher core count CPUs is increasing as gamers seek enhanced processing power. RAM capacities are shifting towards higher levels, driven by the need for seamless gaming and multitasking. Additionally, the rise in VR headset usage indicates a growing interest in immersive gaming experiences. While these trends are not surprising given the evolving nature of gaming, they provide valuable insights into the preferences and expectations of gamers in the ever-changing world of gaming hardware.
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