Steam has released the findings from its October hardware survey. The hardware landscape remains mostly unchanged, with Intel processors leading the way over AMD, holding a 66%-33% advantage. Unlike GPUs, we don't see a detailed breakdown of models, but it's clear that Intel's stronghold in the laptop sector plays a significant role in this dominance.
GPU Popularity
The xx60 series GPUs remain a favorite among gamers, as the GeForce RTX 3060 leads in desktops while the GeForce RTX 4060 takes the lead in laptops. The desktop variant is catching up quickly and should reach similar levels soon. Interestingly, the older GeForce RTX 1650 ranks fourth, surpassing the more robust RTX 2060.
AMD's Position
As expected, AMD's products are lower on the ranking. The first entry is an unlisted Radeon GPU, which is probably the 780M. Following that is the Radeon RX 6600, then the Radeon RX 580. Notably, Nvidia's top-tier GeForce RTX 4090 ranks above AMD's offerings, while the Radeon RX 7900 XTX is positioned below the aging GeForce RTX 1650 Super.
Operating System Trends
Windows 11 remains the most commonly used operating system, and 1080p is still the favored resolution for gamers. Despite the Steam Deck's rise in popularity, Linux users represent a mere 2% of the total user base. These patterns are expected to persist until early 2025, when we might see a slow shift as new hardware from Intel, Nvidia, and AMD becomes available.