ATI, Nvidia Maintain Positions as Card Units Climb

As expected, the first quarter results showed an 8 percent drop in the number of graphics cards, to 24.4 million units, Jon Peddie Rese

As expected, the first quarter results showed an 8 percent drop in the number of graphics cards, to 24.4 million units, Jon Peddie Research reported. Revenue fell by 20 percent, unsurprising during the first quarter, when sales typically trail off after the holiday season. But unit sales also increased 18 percent compared to a year ago, a sign of positive growth.

Graphics Card Market Share, Q1'08 (Source: JPR)

However, the ongoing battle between AMD  and Nvidia remained essentially unchanged, JPR reported: AMD recorded a 35 percent market share, while Nvidia held fast at a commanding 65 percent share.

In an email, Peddie said that his research did not explicitly determine which add-on card vendor -- the customers of AMD and Nvidia -- came out on top. But Peddie identified eVGA, PNY, Sapphire, and MSI, in that order, as the top vendors, according to what he called "expert speculation".