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2007 in PC Hardware

2007 in PC Hardware

Intel Stays Ahead in Processors With Multi-Core Processors As the Norm

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A few clear trends emerge in processors this year, looking at the data. Between Intel and AMD, in 3DMark06 data, Intel started the year ahead, with about 60% of the results coming in using their processors. They also increased their share steadily throughout the year, with now (in December) about 70% of all new 3DMark06 results are made using Intel processors. In comparison, the YouGamers data seems to indicate that in the general public, AMD still holds a large share.

Intel stays ahead throughout 2007, with 3DMark06.

In Game-o-Meter submits, the margin for Intel is smaller and more static.

Dual-core processors have been the norm in 3DMark06 this year. The popularity of dual-cores peaked in July with the rise of quad cores. Currently quad-cores amount for about 20% of all 3DMark06 results. The overall trend this year has been single core processors declining ,with dual-cores getting more popular in the first half of the year and quad cores in the second.

In the Game-o-Meter data, single core processors still remain popular; clear evidence that many gamers have yet to upgrade to a multi-core processor.

Dual-cores CPUs are still the norm, despite the rise of quad-cores.

Game-o-Meter users still typically have single core CPUs.

NVIDIA controls the high-end graphics card market

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In the graphics cards figures, NVIDIA has been a very popular choice all year. At the start of 2007, NVIDIA accounted for about 70% of all 3DMark06 submits and now, in December, the number is up to about 80%. Intel's presence is small; 3DMark06's hardware requirements prevent most users with Intel's integrated graphics solutions from running the benchmark.

With the GoM, things have been steadier: NVIDIA is ahead with just over 60% of all users, ATI hovering around 30% and Intel's integrated solutions with under 10% of users.

NVIDIA was the popular choice in 2007.

In Game-o-Meter submits, ATI's products are closer.

The number of users upgrading to DirectX 10/SM4.0 capable cards has been steady rising over the year. In January, with just the  GeForce 8800 GTX and  GeForce 8800 GTS out, DX10/SM4 cards accounted for about 20% of the submits; now in December that number is up to over 70% and still rising.

In YouGamers data we see that current generation cards have just recently caught up with the previous generation. It seems clear that most PC gamers out there are not yet ready for DX10, even on the hardware side, although the more hardcore enthusiast segment has already mostly upgraded at this point.

DX10, and therefore SM4, adoption has been steady.

Game-o-Meter users have older hardware, but the trend is similar.

Taking specific models, at the start of the year NVIDIA's original DX10 flagship, the GeForce 8800 GTX, was the most popular card among 3DMark06 users, but the more modestly priced GeForce 8800 GTS quickly took over the number one position, particularly increasing in popularity after the release of the 320MB version in February. At best, the GeForce 8800 GTS accounted for over 25% of all 3DMark submits.

Since late November there's been a new sheriff in town. NVIDIA's  GeForce 8800 GT has risen in popularity at a tremendous rate and currently, some 7 weeks, after launch the 8800 GT already accounts for 20% of all 3DMark06 submits.

ATI's DX10 offerings have faired less impressively though. ATI's first DX10 model, the  Radeon 2900 XT has never accounted for anything more 4% of all benchmark submits. ATI's recent offerings, the  Radeon HD 3850 and  Radeon HD 3870, are doing a bit better, but all are still currently far behind the likes of the GeForce 8800 GTS and GT.

Page 1: IntroductionPage 2: Processors and Graphics CardsPage 3: Memory Amounts, XP vs. Vista and Other Tidbits

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