Analysts from a leading market research firm reported that 75.5 million graphics processing units were shipped in the third quarter. This figure marks a notable decline from the previous year, dipping 25.1 percent, and it also shows a 10.3 percent decrease from the second quarter. The declines reflect shifts across the broader computer hardware sector and the ebb in consumer and enterprise demand that followed a strong prior period.
When looking at the segment specifics, shipments of desktop graphics cards dropped by 15.43 percent year over year, while laptop GPUs fell by a sharper 30 percent. This marks the steepest year-over-year decrease in laptop GPU shipments since 2009, underscoring a broad pullback across portable computing devices and the integrated use cases that often accompany them.
Market distribution at the close of the quarter showed Intel commanding a dominant share of 72 percent, with NVIDIA at 16 percent and AMD at 12 percent. The distribution reflects a continued preference for processors with embedded graphics in many Intel-based systems, contrasted with the sustained emphasis on discrete GPU offerings from NVIDIA and AMD in other configurations and markets. The balance highlights how product architecture choices influence the competitive landscape and consumer purchasing behavior.
Several factors were cited to explain the sectoral cooling. A marked slowdown in cryptocurrency mining reduced demand for discrete graphic accelerators, while geopolitical measures and sanctions impacted sales in certain regions, including China. Additionally, the market faced a general cooling after the pandemic-driven surge in electronics spending, leading buyers to delay or reprioritize purchases. In related tech developments, generative AI models and related tools continue to influence hardware demand patterns, with evolving software needs shaping the priorities for GPUs and accelerators across workloads.
This analysis captures the ongoing dynamics between processor-integrated graphics and standalone GPUs, illustrating how shifts in mining profitability, regulatory environments, and post-pandemic consumer behavior shape quarterly results for the GPU ecosystem. The evolving landscape remains sensitive to policy changes, supply chain factors, and the rapid cadence of software innovations that drive new hardware requirements.
Notes: Market commentary reflects industry observations and reported shipment figures for the quarter. All figures are subject to revisions and methodological updates by the research firm in subsequent releases. The trends discussed here align with broader patterns seen across global tech markets as stakeholders adapt to changing demand cycles and disruptive innovations.