Discrete GPU Attach Rate only 10-20% in USA vs. 75% in Europe

[caveman-jim]

Chipchick.com has an interesting write up of consumers around the world buying PC's and specifying with a discrete GPU or not:

When it comes to shopping for a PC, the first thing that people consider for a system’s performance is the computer’s CPU, and then usually the system’s memory is the next component that they take into consideration. Unfortunately, the GPU is often neglected and not enough consideration is taken into getting a dedicated graphics card. This is a shame since more so than ever, having a dedicated GPU inside of your PC can significantly improve your system’s performance.

As a matter of fact, including a discrete GPU in your next computer purchase will likely only add a minimal cost to your system’s configuration, yet it can really extend the shelf life and overall value for your new computer.

AMD has shown us some interesting stats regarding how many people overseas purchase discrete GPUs, compared to the amount of consumers here who purchase discrete GPUs in the U.S. It turns out that in China about 80% make sure to purchase a new PC system with a dedicated GPU, because they believe that is the proper way to get the most value out of their PC purchase. In Europe the attach rate is similarly high at about 75%, and in the Middle East it’s about 65%. Yet, here in the U.S. the attach rate for purchasing a discrete GPU is just out 10% to 20%.

Read the full article at the source site, chipchick.

[caveman-jim]

IMO these figures show the importance of the AMD VISION marketing program and FUSION APU product strategy, for AMD's future business. AMD hope to increase dGPU (discrete GPU) attach rates - selling PC's with discrete GPU's pre-installed - and changing products using underpowered iGPU to FUSION APU based platforms.

Technology such as the GPU Accelerated web (be it via WebM, IE9/Firefox/etc., Flash) and GPGPU enabled applications can drive that growth, as well as providing better and more effective experiences for the user.

[Targon]

I wonder if a part of this trend is WHO buys a computer in the different markets. How many seniors buy computers outside of the USA for example would play a large part when you try to understand why discrete graphics cards are less popular in the USA as a percentage of the overall computer market. Without these numbers, they don't have a lot of meaning. I am sure that in countries where the only people buying a computer are those with a college degree, the percentage of computers with a discrete graphics card will be higher than in countries where there computer use/ownership reaches a broader audience.

Let's face it, we see a market where the iPad is enough for many users, so if that is enough for someone, then they also would not need a discrete graphics card in their computer as well. The performance of integrated graphics has also gone up quite a bit over the past six years, and many don't see a need for faster graphics than something like a Radeon 3200.

[sandorski]

Europeans have always been more savvy at buying PCs. Back in the 80's while all we North Americans were buying IBM PCs with crappy capabilities and DOS, in Europe they were buying Macs, Ataris, and Amigas with far better Hardware and OSes. They practically kept those 3 alive by themselves, for awhile anyway.

[Dr. Zhivago]

I wonder if a part of this trend is WHO buys a computer in the different markets. How many seniors buy computers outside of the USA for example would play a large part when you try to understand why discrete graphics cards are less popular in the USA as a percentage of the overall computer market. Without these numbers, they don't have a lot of meaning. I am sure that in countries where the only people buying a computer are those with a college degree, the percentage of computers with a discrete graphics card will be higher than in countries where there computer use/ownership reaches a broader audience.

Let's face it, we see a market where the iPad is enough for many users, so if that is enough for someone, then they also would not need a discrete graphics card in their computer as well. The performance of integrated graphics has also gone up quite a bit over the past six years, and many don't see a need for faster graphics than something like a Radeon 3200.

This.

Some anecdotal commentary: I work with a lot of Mac users in a Windows dominated Corporate environment. Most of the Mac users are pretty ignorant when it comes to computer hardware. This is not a slam, it is a fact. Just recently, one of these users requested a Mac Mini to replace his Windows workstation. He was given a base model Mac Mini with 2GB of RAM.

He loaded VMWare to run Windows XP so he could run the Windows version of AutoCAD that the corporation owns. It of course ran poorly as did his whole machine. He called on me to find out why his brand new Mac was running so poorly. (I'm not even part of the IT for this corporation, mind you.) I explained that at the very least, he needed to request an additional 2GB of RAM.

I asked him why he went from a fairly powerful Windows machine to the lowly Mac Mini. He responded by saying he's "just wanted the Mac Interface." Yet, he has to run Windows XP in a VM so he can do a large portion of his work...

These are the type of people who buy most of the computers in this country (America).

My .02

[WimpMiester]

If you really are computer savvy then you won't buy a graphics card with a new computer. I leave the GPU out when ever possible because I can always get it for a better price purchasing it separately. US PC system houses overcharge for that part.

[Hyrax]

Even spending just $50 on a discrete GPU will offer very competitive performance.

[ragejg]

Even spending just $50 on a discrete GPU will offer very competitive performance.

Yup.

The other day you could pick up two HD 4830s for $60. OC them healthily and/or do a little BIOS modding and you have something that provides awesome gaming value, likely matching 2x 4850 in most games... for example in Bad Company 2 @ 19x10 this config would approach or match the performance of a single 5870 in a lot of games... ... For $60. Wow.

Now of course that was a one-day sale, but is quite representative of the value that can be had for a low cost in discrete GPUs these days.