Desktop discrete graphics card shipments surged to 12.5 million units in Q2 2026, the highest since early 2022, with Nvidia capturing 90% of the market, according to Jon Peddie Research. The sales spike came despite record-high prices and falling desktop CPU shipments, driven by consumers rushing to beat further price increases linked to geopolitical tensions.
The market for standalone desktop GPUs — known as add-in boards (AIBs) — rose 5.9% sequentially and 7.8% year-over-year in the second quarter of 2026, with 12.5 million units shipped. This is the highest quarterly total since Q1 2022, when 13.38 million units were sold.
For the first half of 2026, total AIB shipments reached 24.3 million units, up from 20.8 million in the same period last year. The data comes from Jon Peddie Research and was reported by Tom's Hardware.
Nvidia shipped approximately 11.25 million desktop discrete GPUs in Q2 2026, giving it around 90% market share. This was its strongest quarter since Q3 2017, when it sold about 11.72 million units. AMD held roughly 8% of the market with shipments of around one million units, while Intel's share increased to 2% on shipments of several hundred thousand units. Market share changes were negligible during the quarter, with AMD's AIB share dropping by -0.16%, Intel's gaining 0.3%, and Nvidia's decreasing by -0.1% from the previous quarter.
The report also notes that only about 14 million desktop PCs were sold during the quarter, implying a high attach rate of 89% for GPUs. Most AIBs shipped were aimed at retail buyers rather than PC makers, with gamers being the primary customer.
The unusually strong demand despite price increases is attributed to consumers expecting even higher prices in the coming quarters, driven by the ongoing war in Iran, which is raising costs across the market.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Gamers and PC enthusiasts now face a supply-constrained, premium-priced GPU market, with Nvidia in an increasingly dominant position.
- High attach rates (89%) indicate many buyers are purchasing cards separately rather than building new systems, suggesting price sensitivity remains less of a disincentive than expected.
- The upward pricing trajectory linked to geopolitical tensions could accelerate if the Iran conflict escalates, potentially hitting budget buyers hardest.
Background
The discrete GPU market had been in a multi-year slump following a post-COVID correction. After peaking at 13.38 million AIBs in Q1 2022, shipments fell sharply as the pandemic-era boom faded. In 2025, sales appeared to stabilize but prices also began rising due to inflation, component costs, and supply chain pressures. Nvidia has historically held a dominant market share, often above 80% in recent years, but 90% is a particularly high watermark since its GeForce RTX line launched.
The attach rate of 89% is unusually high — typically closer to 60-70%, meaning fewer new desktop PCs are being built, and sales are more dependent on upgrades from the existing user base.
Key Perspectives
Jon Peddie Research (JPR): “Defying common wisdom, high-end AIB sales spiked as prices increased,” said Jon Peddie, president of JPR. The firm theorizes consumers rushed to buy before prices went higher, driven by the war in Iran rippling the entire electronics industry.
Nvidia: Remains the market leader with a commanding 90% share, selling its highest number of desktop GPUs in a quarter since 2017. The company has sustained rally for premium products despite economic headwinds.
AMD: Held roughly 8% of the market with shipments of about one million units — higher than the 700,000 it sold in Q2 2025. AMD’s share has floated near one million or below for nearly four years, showing a plateau in its GPU desktop business.
Intel: Share increased by 0.3% to 2% of the market on shipments of "several hundred thousand" units, suggesting modest gains from its Arc series but far from major disruption.
What to Watch
- GPU pricing: Will prices continue to rise in Q3 2026? The trend suggests yes if neutral geopolitical conditions worsen.
- Nvidia's supply and pricing for upcoming models: Justice shipments of RTX 50-series or 60-series will shape competition and affordability.
- AMD and Intel's response: Low market share may push both companies to accelerate refresh cycles or shifting-margin strategies.
- Attach rate: RT if back to 60-70% range, it would indicate the retail GPU bubble may burst as high prices start to deter buyers or as new PC builds emerge.