Cryptocurrency Mining Causes Abnormally high Q2 GPU Shipments, Causes AMD to Gain a Little Market Share

[DocSwag]

Source: http://www.anandtech.com/show/11762/cryptomining-demand-drives-exceptionally-high-graphics-card-shipments-in-q2-2017

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This week, Jon Peddie Research (JPR) reported significantly higher discrete GPU shipments for Q2 2017, attributing the historically unprecedented increase to cryptocurrency mining, specifically to Ethereum mining. As opposed to the cryptocurrency mining demand of a few years ago, JPR notes that the ASIC-resistant nature of Ethereum mining has especially encouraged GPU mining. In terms of discrete desktop graphics market share, AMD gained a few percentage points from NVIDIA, bringing the current balance to AMD’s 29.4% versus NVIDIA’s 70.6%.

 

In context, the GPU and PC markets fluctuate in a relatively consistent seasonal pattern: shipments trend flat to down in Q1, notably down in Q2, notably up in Q3, and up to flat in Q4. According to JPR, Q2 2017 has seen an unprecedented 31% increase in discrete GPU shipments from Q1, the first time in over eight years that Q1-to-Q2 shipments have seen an increase at all. Discounting the minor increases during the recession, Q2 has always been the seasonally weak quarter for graphics card shipments.

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On the back of that cryptomining demand, discrete GPUs have regained market share over integrated GPUs (iGPUs). Weak iGPU and desktop PC shipment numbers continue to reflect the overall declining PC market, while the high-end gaming PC sector continues to be the bright spot for the market. Overall, GPU shipments increased by 7.2% from last quarter.

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Vendor-wise, JPR reports that AMD’s overall unit shipments increased 7.8% quarter-to-quarter, Intel’s shipments increased 6.3%, and NVIDIA’s shipments increased 10.4%. As mentioned earlier, AMD did gain market share in discrete desktop graphics, but still remains below last year’s market share level.

Here we can see the full extent of what the cryptocurrency mining boom has done in terms of gpu shipments. Normally Q1-Q2 is a reduction in gpu shipments, but instead we see a 30% gain.

 

As well, in the below picture we can see gpu shipments are nearly as high as what q3 of last year was at (q3 and q4 usually have much higher shipments compared to q1 and Q2 due to back to school and holiday shopping). 

As well, as many of you already know and could probably tell amd GPUs have been much more popular when it comes to mining. This is somewhat reflected in us seeing amd gain 2% of market share compared to last quarter.

 

All in all its interesting to see just how big an impact cryptocurrency mining has made on gpu shipments. What I'm wondering is if this is gonna continue on for a few more months and potentially raise q3 and q4 shipments, possibly raising quarterly shipments to unprescented highs...

[{PK} HastyPixels]

There's another thread somewhere 'round here about the evils of mining, but this post is particularly telling. In no way is AMD going to discourage anyone from using their hardware, but... I could imagine them wanting to reduce RMA/Warranty replacements to keep costs down. I don't know how slim a margin they operate, but could imagine it's rather narrow. Fundamentally they want the sales, but must manage their reputation at the same time: Just look at the work they've put into their gaming oriented drivers.

 

It's not encouraging of them to play both sides of the coin (ahem) in a disingenuous manner, but here's a toast to increased sales for one of my "go to" companies.

[vanished]

That "Intel" market share is a bit odd... I mean, I get everyone pretty much has an iGPU, but those aren't serious cards.  Usually when looking at market share you'd ignore those and only rate AMD and nvidia on their portion of the sum of those two.

[AresKrieger]

4 minutes ago, Ryan_Vickers said:

That "Intel" market share is a bit odd... I mean, I get everyone pretty much has an iGPU, but those aren't serious cards.  Usually when looking at market share you'd ignore those and only rate AMD and nvidia on their portion of the sum of those two.

Well they also have to take out intergrated amd chips as well in that case

 

Anyway they are screwed in the gaming market right now but the compute performance is good so it isn't a surprise miners are picking the vega cards up

[{PK} HastyPixels]

Exactly, serious in what respect? iGPUs run circles around dedicated GPUs of yore, and are actually more than the average consumer needs. That wasn't true all that long ago. Enthusiasts - such as ourselves - need more, but we're not as mainstream as we used to be. Don't forget that AMD has yet to release it's revamped APUs, and that will shake up the iGPU market something fierce.

[AshleyAshes]

37 minutes ago, Ryan_Vickers said:

That "Intel" market share is a bit odd... I mean, I get everyone pretty much has an iGPU, but those aren't serious cards.  Usually when looking at market share you'd ignore those and only rate AMD and nvidia on their portion of the sum of those two.

I'm not entirely sure that's fair though.  There ARE people gaming on those IGPs.  There are plenty of people who have a laptop or something with just an Intel IGP and they are still casually enjoying games on that hardware.  You can totally run Overwatch or Team Fortress II  or CS:GO or something else akin to that 'well enough' on an Intel IGP.  You an argue that that's not 'Gaming Hardware' but it's still 'Hardware that people are gaming on'.

[mr moose]

1 hour ago, Ryan_Vickers said:

That "Intel" market share is a bit odd... I mean, I get everyone pretty much has an iGPU, but those aren't serious cards.  Usually when looking at market share you'd ignore those and only rate AMD and nvidia on their portion of the sum of those two.

I find it very helpful to know how iGPU (and all other more mundane desktop hardware)  is doing.  Gamer's really only make up a small portion of the market, and as has been suggested before that the desktop as we know it has its days numbered,   Knowing how well general consumer products are selling helps us to see what direction the whole industry may/may not turn.

 

 

As far as mining goes,  whilst I don't like it personally,  Having another demand in the market for HEDT PC parts means manufacturers will keep contouring products that suit enthusiasts needs. 

[vanished]

3 hours ago, AshleyAshes said:

I'm not entirely sure that's fair though.  There ARE people gaming on those IGPs.  [...]

3 hours ago, AresKrieger said:

Well they also have to take out intergrated amd chips as well in that case [...]

Yeah I guess.  I guess what I want to avoid is it counting GPUs are there "just cuz", and focus on ones people actually use "intentionally", for gaming.  I don't know how you'd count  that accurately though... I have to imagine most iGPUs wouldn't fall into that category, but you're right that some would, especially AMD APUs. 

[Drak3]

6 hours ago, {PK} HastyPixels said:

I could imagine them wanting to reduce RMA/Warranty replacements to keep costs down.

That is, of course, assuming that RMA rates have actually changed due to mining, and not RMA count scaling up along side sales.

 

5 hours ago, mr moose said:

and as has been suggested before that the desktop as we know it has its days numbered,

Only for basic tasks. The humble desktop isn't going to be disappearing any time soon, save for shitty OEM budget builds.

[mr moose]

5 hours ago, Drak3 said:

 

 

Only for basic tasks. The humble desktop isn't going to be disappearing any time soon, save for shitty OEM budget builds.

It already is,  office's and schools are going to thin clients/laptops and the home market is being replaced with phones/tablets.

[{PK} HastyPixels]

21 hours ago, Ryan_Vickers said:

Yeah I guess.  I guess what I want to avoid is it counting GPUs are there "just cuz", and focus on ones people actually use "intentionally", for gaming.  I don't know how you'd count  that accurately though... I have to imagine most iGPUs wouldn't fall into that category, but you're right that some would, especially AMD APUs. 

The AMD APU Gen7 is actually quite a powerhouse for its respective power consumption. It produces playable framerates of Ori and the Blind Forest at 1080p. "Power without the Price". This segment of the market has been AMD's saving grace for many a year now.

[Vode]

On 8/26/2017 at 10:56 PM, AshleyAshes said:

I'm not entirely sure that's fair though.  There ARE people gaming on those IGPs.  There are plenty of people who have a laptop or something with just an Intel IGP and they are still casually enjoying games on that hardware.  You can totally run Overwatch or Team Fortress II  or CS:GO or something else akin to that 'well enough' on an Intel IGP.  You an argue that that's not 'Gaming Hardware' but it's still 'Hardware that people are gaming on'.

Even I play Dark Souls 2 on my MBP with the iGPU. It can handle it.

[Princess Luna]

I can play CS:GO 1366x768p 60fps+ stable on my Intel HD Graphics inside the i7 7500u just fine

 

But yes I suppose it would be more fitting to count "video cards" only and not everything capable of graphic processing.

[AshleyAshes]

2 minutes ago, Princess Cadence said:

I can play CS:GO 1366x768p 60fps+ stable on my Intel HD Graphics inside the i7 7500u just fine

 

But yes I suppose it would be more fitting to count "video cards" only and not everything capable of graphic processing.

I bet $20 that once Sonic Mania hits Steam in two days, my i7 7500u will run it at 4K@60fps.

[Mr.Meerkat]

21 hours ago, Ryan_Vickers said:

"intentionally"

Well...a HD 620 can run more or less all 2014 triple As at 720p30+@low and some 2015/2016 triple As at 720p30@low. Then there's the 'iris' iGPUs (such as the 650) which allows a large number of 2016 triple As to run at 720p30+@low and heck even some 2017 triple As at 720p30+@low.

So if we were to consider how powerful current gen intel iGPUs are, I can actually see people intentionally gaming on them  

[Mr.Meerkat]

8 minutes ago, Princess Cadence said:

I can play CS:GO 1366x768p 60fps+ stable on my Intel HD Graphics inside the i7 7500u just fine

 

But yes I suppose it would be more fitting to count "video cards" only and not everything capable of graphic processing.

Pffftttt, only 60fps on your i7 7500U? 

I was hitting 55fps at 1080p with my 4500U  

[Princess Luna]

Just now, Mr.Meerkat said:

Pffftttt, only 60fps on your i7 7500U? 

I was hitting 55fps at 1080p with my 4500U  

Not much point in going higher when you're stuck to an Acer laptop 60hz screen

[{PK} HastyPixels]

1 minute ago, Princess Cadence said:

Not much point in going higher when you're stuck to an Acer laptop 60hz screen

Of course for those of us who want to occasionally play Battlefield 1942, Bejeweled 3 or Stardew Valley, all we need to do is plug a toaster into our monitors, and away we go.

[Princess Luna]

Just now, {PK} HastyPixels said:

.

Yes, I do have ePSXe emulator on it, runs any PS1 games like a charm, really like Harvest Moon.

[{PK} HastyPixels]

1 minute ago, Princess Cadence said:

Yes, I do have ePSXe emulator on it, runs any PS1 games like a charm, really like Harvest Moon.

Your toaster? Oh wait. That's the beauty of emulators, they'll run on just about anything. Love 'em.

[Zodiark1593]

1 hour ago, Mr.Meerkat said:

Well...a HD 620 can run more or less all 2014 triple As at 720p30+@low and some 2015/2016 triple As at 720p30@low. Then there's the 'iris' iGPUs (such as the 650) which allows a large number of 2016 triple As to run at 720p30+@low and heck even some 2017 triple As at 720p30+@low.

So if we were to consider how powerful current gen intel iGPUs are, I can actually see people intentionally gaming on them  

Not long ago, Pre Sandy Bridge, iGPUs were hardly fit for even old games. Now they're good enough for many people.

 

1 hour ago, Princess Cadence said:

Yes, I do have ePSXe emulator on it, runs any PS1 games like a charm, really like Harvest Moon.

Digimon World on my phone ftw.

[vanished]

2 hours ago, Mr.Meerkat said:

Well...a HD 620 can run more or less all 2014 triple As at 720p30+@low and some 2015/2016 triple As at 720p30@low. Then there's the 'iris' iGPUs (such as the 650) which allows a large number of 2016 triple As to run at 720p30+@low and heck even some 2017 triple As at 720p30+@low.

So if we were to consider how powerful current gen intel iGPUs are, I can actually see people intentionally gaming on them  

and if they do, then that's fair, they should be counted.  I just don't want to see the numbers artificially inflated by counting all the igpus that sit idle in office pcs, non-gamer home users, etc