Steam has shared February survey results that highlight the most popular gaming hardware among Steam users in North America, including both the United States and Canada. The report focuses on widely used components like video cards and processors, reflecting real-world choices among PC gamers who rely on Steam for titles and updates.
The top three video cards in use were NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 (6.12%), NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (5.28%), and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop (4.78%). The numbers show a clear preference for mid-range to capable modern GPUs, with the RTX 3060 Laptop entering the top tier and illustrating strong demand for portable gaming performance among users who travel or prefer compact setups.
Notably, the desktop version of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 has climbed the charts. It now sits in fifth place, and month-over-month, its share rose by 0.69%, totaling 4.36% of Steam players in the survey window. This shift mirrors broader trends toward solid 1080p and affordable 1440p gaming experiences on desktop machines.
For processors, Intel remains the dominant choice, commanding 67.17% of the Steam user base, while AMD accounts for 32.80%. The gap underscores the continued preference for Intel’s efficiency and performance in a broad range of gaming rigs used in North American households and workplaces where gaming is a popular pastime.
Alongside these core components, the February snapshot also presents a snapshot of overall hardware and operating system usage:
- OS Version: Windows 10 64-bit at 62.33%.
- RAM: 16GB is the most common configuration at 52.71%.
- Processor cores: six cores are most common at 33.42%.
- Video memory: 8 GB is the standard for many gamers at 28.04%.
- Screen resolution: 1920 x 1080 remains the dominant display at 64.60%.
- Language preference: English at 35.27%.
- Most popular VR headset: Oculus Quest 2 at 44.65%.
The February data aligns with ongoing conversations about cost-to-performance value for gamers in North America. It highlights how many players balance portability, power, and budget when building or upgrading their rigs. The trend toward mid-range GPUs and six-core processors suggests a pragmatic approach: getting enough frame rate and stability for modern titles without overspending. As VR continues to grow in popularity, the Oculus Quest 2 stands out as a preferred entry point for immersive experiences without demanding desktop PC power, a pattern visible across many Steam user communities.
Previously, Valve had hinted at major sales and calendar milestones expected during the year, underscoring the platform’s ongoing role in shaping PC gaming decisions. The collective data from Steam users helps retailers and manufacturers understand demand patterns, guiding product launches, promotions, and regional strategies for North American markets.
Note: The focus is on what gamers actually use in the field. The numbers provide a practical snapshot that summarizes typical configurations, screen sizes, and language settings among Steam participants in Canada and the United States.