GPU market in Q4 2020: Intel extends leadership thanks to CPUs with integrated graphics

Pending data on the dedicated video card market, Jon Peddie Research he has published the analysis on the fourth quarter 2020 of the entire graphics sector, therefore also taking into account the dedicated graphics chips in notebooks, CPUs with integrated graphics and so on. Analysts tell us about a sector that is standing capitalizing on the huge demand for GPUs that exists at the moment, by both players and miners: the growth of deliveries in Q4 is del 20.5% on the third quarter and 12.4% on the same period of 2019.

“Before 2020, the PC market was showing signs of improvement and settling into a new normal. The pandemic has skewed all models and predictions, as has the Ethereum gold rush. The report confirms this trend for the fourth quarter of 2020 but the forecast is cautious for the next year “, reads the press release.

Turning to producer numbers, Jon Peddie points out a 2.2% drop in AMD’s overall share in the graphics sector compared to the previous quarter, compared to one + 6.6% of Intel and -4.37% of Nvidia. Overall GPU delivery, which, as we have already written, has risen by 20.5% compared to Q3 2020, sees AMD score a + 6.3%, Intel a + 33.2% and Nvidia a -7. , 3%. It is therefore confirmed as an Intel in great shape thanks to a last quarter in which, taking advantage of the production problems of its rivals, it managed to sell many more CPUs with integrated graphics – both notebooks and desktops – compared to previous quarters.

In the field of dedicated video cards, Jon Peddie anticipates that there was a drop in deliveries of 3.9% compared to Q3, but we will see in the coming days how the balance between Nvidia and AMD has changed.

“Due to the smart working linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, notebook shipments exceeded 230 million units for the first time. In addition, year-to-year growth was 49%, the largest ever in a year. And this was achieved despite problems in the supply chain due to trade wars, pandemic-related blockades and shortages of materials. The forecast for 2021 will be more modest, ~ 6%, but still above average. Chromebooks have made a substantial contribution to growth in 2020 and we expect a decrease in 2021 due to school budget constraints, unless the COVID aid package arrives in the US and adds new funds. “

Dedicated GPUs (desktop and notebook): Nvidia increases the share from 73% to 82% in one year

According to Jon Peddie, president of JPR, “the factors that have influenced the strong sales of dedicated video cards in the past two quarters have clearly been the growth of gaming and the need to set up home offices due to COVID.”

“It has been speculated that there may be a renewal of demand due to cryptocurrency mining. Anything is possible, but the power consumption of AIB solutions greatly reduces the earnings of crypto-mining. Ethereum, the most suitable coin for GPUs, will enter in version 2.0 very soon, making GPUs obsolete. It would be very foolish for a person to invest in a high-end power-consuming video card for cryptocurrency mining today.“.

The perception is that the world is full of fools, but if it is precisely a perception (the photos of 70 GPU mining rigs are impressive and striking, but could deceive the true extent of the phenomenon). The only data on the weight of GPU purchases by miners has spread – albeit in spans – Nvidia, which on the sidelines of the quarterly estimated a turnover of 100-300 million dollars.