One of the most interesting aspects of Steam isn't in its game catalog, client updates, or discount seasons, but in its hardware survey. With prior user permission, Steam obtains specific details about the computers used by the gamer community, which in turn allows it to identify the most popular hardware and the strongest technological trends. What can we learn from its latest edition?
Anyone who closely follows new hardware releases knows that companies are favoring influencers to improve the profile of their latest products, when in practice they aren't that good, or have a truly horrible price-performance ratio. My personal recommendation is always the same: don't fall for the hype, wait for benchmarks, compare prices, and explore the second-hand market if the numbers don't work out.
But what are gamers using today? What kind of hardware dominates their sessions? One of the best online sources is the Steam Survey that Valve periodically updates. The survey is far from perfect (since it's optional and not all users participate), and the influence of Asia and Latin America on its makeup has been highlighted more than once, but there are trends that transcend borders and are worth studying more closely.
The Most Popular Hardware, According to Steam
- In terms of processors, Intel remains the number one choice with 67.38 percent, while six-core silicon stays at the top of the list, registering 32.43 percent. However, eight-core configurations are very close to replacing quad-core in second place, with 21.17 percent (vs. 25.92%), and gaining 1.58 points in the last update. Is the future of gaming octa-core? The percentages suggest so.
- No matter what Nvidia, AMD, and Intel try to invent, gamers favor price-performance, and that is reflected once again in the GeForce GTX 1650, which dominates the graphics card section with 5.50 percent. Close behind is the GeForce RTX 3060 with 4.60 percent, but Steam does not specify the exact version (8 or 12 GB), and the podium is closed by the eternal GTX 1060 with 4.45 percent. Nvidia's newest hardware appears far below, with 0.54 percent for the RTX 4090 and 0.39 percent for the RTX 4080.
- AMD's numbers indicate that the most popular option is integrated video in some of its APUs (identified as AMD Radeon Graphics) with 1.95 percent, followed by the inexhaustible Radeon RX 580, stuck at 1 percent. The RX 570 floats at 0.77 percent, and the Radeon RX 5700 XT appears with 0.63 percent. The 7000 series? It's conspicuously absent.
- Finally, we note that the evolution of video memory is going through a chaotic stage. 8 GB takes first place with 27.53 percent, followed by 6 GB (21.06%), 4 GB (12.71%), and 12 GB (11.40%), but all rates are declining except for 6 GB, which grew by 1.88 percent. What about resolution? 1080p is the absolute queen with 62 percent, 1440p stretches its legs in second place with 13.23 percent, and 4K seeks to fight for third place against 1366x768 (3.04% and rising, vs. 4.94%).
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