Even with various SKUs available in cheaper 8 GB configs, many buyers prefer to pay more upfront to get a 16 GB model because the difference can be substantial . Unfortunately, with the ongoing memory crisis, these GPUs are hit the hardest. We even had rumors of Nvidia ceasing to supply VRAM to board partners , leaving them to source their own memory due to the shortage.
As the industry navigates these turbulent times, graphics cards in general have gotten more expensive . Budget-conscious gamers feel left out as an already mid- to high-end focused market has begun moving even further up. Regardless, we should get a more accurate representation of VRAM capacities in Steam users' systems next month; with February's survey, that's only about a week out.
Moreover, Valve also said that in systems with "multiple display adapters," the one with the highest amount of memory will be reported. That means if you have, say, an 8 GB GPU and a 12 GB GPU together for some reason, it's the latter that Steam will pick up as part of its hardware survey. That should streamline the VRAM calculation process and provide us with a more realistic snapshot for most rigs out there. It will also prevent Steam from picking up integrated Radeon and Intel units with very small default allocations of VRAM in the BIOS.
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Key considerations
- Investor positioning can change fast
- Volatility remains possible near catalysts
- Macro rates and liquidity can dominate flows
Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/pc-gaming/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/pc-gaming/valve-says-it-misreported-vram-capacity-on-some-graphics-cards-in-steam-hardware-surveys-latest-data-depicting-30-percent-adoption-of-8gb-gpus-now-foggy#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com/subscription
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Informational only. No financial advice. Do your own research.