According to Jon Peddie Research, approximately 64.1 million PC graphics devices shipped from eight suppliers in Q4 of last year, a 1.5 per cent increase over the previous quarter and a 3.3 per cent increase over the same period the previous year.
The desktop graphics segment saw a 2.2 per
cent decline in quarterly shipments but discrete desktop shipments increased 12.3 per cent sequentially. Integrated desktop shipments fell 11.0 per cent on a quarterly basis. ATI maintained its lead in the discrete desktop segment, but by a narrower margin than in the third quarter. ATI’s discrete desktop shipments increased 5.7 per cent sequentially and its share in the segment fell from 55.1 per cent in Q3 of 2004 to 51.9 per cent in Q4 of 2004. In contrast, Nvidia’s discrete desktop shipments increased 21.6 per cent sequentially and its segment share grew from 43.2 per cent to 46.7 per cent during the same period. A record 14.7 million mobile graphics processors shipped from six suppliers in Q4, up 16.3 per cent from the previous quarter and up 21.3 per cent year-over-year. Mobile graphics also held a record 22.9 per cent share of the total graphics market during the period. Shipments of integrated graphics chipsets for notebooks outpaced those of discrete (stand-alone) mobile graphics processors in Q4, showing sequential growth of 21.5 per cent and annual growth of 32.3 per cent. Discrete mobile controller shipments grew at a more modest 10.5 per cent sequentially and 10.2 per cent year-over-year.
ATI was the largest supplier to the mobile segment in the fourth quarter but with its share falling from 49.9 per cent to 42.9 per cent sequentially. ATI’s loss of share came on increased shipments from Intel of integrated chipsets for notebooks and increased shipments from Nvidia of discrete mobile graphics. Nvidia grew its shipments of discrete mobile graphics more than 25 per cent during the period and increased its segment share more than three points, from 22.6 per cent to 25.7 per cent. Intel grew its share in the mobile IGC segment more than seven points, from 64.7 per cent to 71.8 per cent.
“”Although overall industry growth was modest in the fourth quarter, several segments and suppliers displayed strong performance,”” said Lisa Epstein, a senior analyst at Jon Peddie Research. “”The mobile segment saw record shipments and share of the total graphics market, and discrete desktop shipments rebounded on increased shipments from both ATI and Nvidia. The only drag on the market was the desktop IGC segment, with shipments falling sequentially but growing year-over-year,”” Epstein concluded.
Intel saw a 6.2 per cent sequential increase in graphics shipments in Q4 of last year, was the largest supplier of PC graphics devices worldwide, and claimed an increased share of the total graphics market. ATI was the second largest supplier in Q4 with 2.3 per cent shipment growth and approximately flat share of the total graphics market. Nvidia was the third largest supplier with 18.1 per cent shipment growth and increased market share.
Dr. Jon Peddie has been active in the graphics and multimedia fields for more than 30 years. Jon Peddie Research is a technically oriented multimedia and graphics research and consulting firm based in Tiburon, Calif.
