Discrete GPU Shipments Defy Market Slowdown in Q2 2026
Standalone GPU shipments grew 12.2% quarter-over-quarter despite weaker PC demand and higher memory costs, with notebooks driving the expansion.
Discrete graphics processor shipments increased in the second quarter of 2026, according to Jon Peddie Research. The 12.2% rise from the first quarter occurred despite a seasonal slowdown in the PC market and higher component costs linked to memory shortages.
Total consumer PC GPU shipments, which include both integrated and discrete processors, reached 75.5 million units. This represented a 10.4% increase from the previous quarter and a 1.1% rise compared to the same period last year. The broader client CPU market, in contrast, declined by 1.1% year-over-year.
Notebooks Drive Overall Growth
Notebooks were responsible for most of the expansion. GPU shipments for laptops surged 16.8% quarter over quarter. Desktop GPU shipments, however, fell by 4%. This pattern mirrored the client CPU market, where mobile processor shipments grew while desktop CPU shipments dropped sharply from the first quarter.
JPR did not provide a specific unit total for discrete GPUs alone. Based on the firm's reported attachment rates and other data, analysts estimate AMD, Intel, and Nvidia shipped approximately 20 million standalone GPUs during the quarter. The research does not clarify what specifically drove the increase, leaving it unclear how much came from desktop graphics cards, gaming notebooks, or other PC designs with discrete GPUs.
Market Share Shifts
Intel maintained its position as the largest supplier in the overall consumer PC GPU market, a status driven by the integrated graphics in its CPUs. The company held a 56% share in the second quarter. Nvidia ranked second with a 23% share.
AMD's share of the consumer GPU market grew to 21%, up from 14% a year earlier. Jon Peddie Research linked this gain to increased shipments of AMD's consumer CPUs, which include integrated Radeon graphics. The firm noted this does not necessarily indicate a similar gain in AMD's standalone graphics card business.
| Supplier | Overall Consumer GPU Market Share (Q2 2026) |
|---|---|
| Intel | 56% |
| Nvidia | 23% |
| AMD | 21% |
Awaiting the Discrete Desktop Picture
The full picture for the discrete desktop GPU market remains unclear. More details are expected later this month when JPR publishes its complete desktop add-in-board report. That report will provide specific market-share data for AMD, Intel, and Nvidia in the discrete desktop GPU segment. It should offer a clearer view of how the three companies performed in that specific market during a quarter of rising memory costs.
