According to Jon Peddie Research, desktop graphics card shipments reached 12.5 million units in the second quarter of 2026. This figure marks the highest quarterly volume recorded since the first quarter of 2022, representing a 5.9% increase over the previous quarter and a 7.8% rise compared to the same period last year.
For the first half of 2026, total desktop AIB shipments amounted to 24.3 million units, showing growth from 20.8 million units during the first half of 2025. This increase in volume occurs despite a sustained rise in GPU prices over recent months, which has affected both entry-level and high-end hardware models.
The industry is currently navigating a significant memory crisis, characterized by steadily increasing VRAM costs. Specifically, the rising cost of GDDR7 memory is cited as a factor contributing to the upward trend in GPU pricing across the market.
Jon Peddie, president of JPR, suggests that the current price hikes are driving shipment growth rather than hindering it. Consumers appear to be purchasing hardware now due to expectations of further price increases, prioritizing immediate acquisition over waiting for potential future price drops.
