Steam, a dominant player in the gaming platform realm for Windows, conducts monthly hardware surveys. These studies provide a snapshot of evolving gamer preferences regarding system specifications. The GTX 1650, from Nvidia, has consistently maintained its position as a top choice. However, the tides have turned in the September 2023 survey.

The New Champion: RTX 3060’s Domination

Source: Steam

Climbing to the peak, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 emerges as the most favored GPU on Steam, capturing the allegiance of 6.10% of all users. While the GTX 1650 now secures the second spot, the GTX 1060 takes the third position. Notably, the mobile counterpart of the RTX 3060, equipped in laptops, also holds significant sway, accounting for 3.72% of the Steam user base.

Decoding the RTX 3060’s Popularity

The RTX 3060 stands out as Nvidia’s key mainstream product, reflecting its evident popularity in the survey. Endowed with a generous 12GB GDDR6 RAM, an impressive ray-tracing capability that outshines the GTX 1060 tenfold, and cutting-edge features coupled with architectural advancements, Nvidia has successfully enticed a substantial segment of gamers. The overarching inclination towards the 60-class of Nvidia GPUs, evident from the RTX 3060’s widespread use and GTX 1060’s earlier dominance, indicates a preference for Nvidia’s mid-tier offerings.

AMD’s Position in the Survey

Shifting the lens to Team Red, or AMD, it’s observed that 14.79% of Steam users employ an AMD graphics card. Within this cohort, the RX 580 emerges as the top pick, with a usage rate of 0.92%. Furthermore, the integrated graphics from AMD Radeon, specifically on the Ryzen mobile processors, cater to 1.83% of the total players.

People on Steam are mostly using Nvidia GPUs (Source: Steam)

Nvidia’s Overarching Dominance

Per the insights from Steam’s recent survey, a whopping 77% of the platform’s user base are Nvidia loyalists. Historical trends showcased the GTX 1060’s extended reign, with the GTX 1650 also capturing substantial interest at various intervals. The RTX 4060, despite being a recent entrant and a successor to the RTX 3060, has made notable inroads, primarily due to its attractive pricing strategy.

RAM Preferences: Current Trends and Recommendations

The September 2023 survey delineates that a 16GB RAM has become a norm, encompassing 51.33% of the total share. Although 8GB RAM remains operational in 2023, emerging games pose challenges for this configuration. Still, a significant 14.39% of Steam’s clientele continue with 8GB RAM setups. For those contemplating an upgrade from the 8GB bracket, we have a comprehensive guide to streamline the RAM enhancement process for both desktop PCs and laptops.

Final Thoughts

The data from Steam’s hardware survey furnishes vital insights into the dynamic preferences of the gaming community. Nvidia’s consistent dominance, especially with the RTX 3060’s ascendance, signifies the brand’s resonance with gamers. As the gaming world continues to evolve, these hardware trends will undeniably play a pivotal role in shaping future gaming experiences.

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