GPU VRAM over time

[mackerel]

Since everyone is a GPU design expert these days, I made a chart showing VRAM trends over time. Steam Hardware Survey from mid-2018 to current. Wayback Machine only had data to 2018. I didn't enter every single month as that would take forever, so I tried to pick roughly 2 points per year. If you wonder why it doesn't add to 100% exactly, there is an "others" section I didn't chart. Note I also grouped some options to make it less cluttered.

Some interesting trends going on there.
In mid 2018, most people has 2GB or lower VRAM!
Some point in early 2019, majority moved up to 4GB or higher.
In late 2020 6GB or higher took over.
Then we have a longer gap. 8GB or higher became majority in late 2023 which is where we are now.

 

[Kenrou]

Yeah, UE5 came out 2022, UE5 games started rolling out and suddenly 8gb became mandatory... Tracks well

 

[Woomack]

If I'm right, from 2018 to 2020, Intel IGP was the most popular GPU (60% or something). It wasn't possible to set more than 2GB on most of the IGPs. Even then, not so many discrete graphics had less than 4GB.

 

[Kenrou]

Wait, just noticed, why is this thread on the CPU section?

 

[Janus67]

Wait, just noticed, why is this thread on the CPU section?

Good question! Moving it

 

[Kenrou]

I posted a video about the most used GPUs a while back, 1060s ruled the charts from 2016 to around 2021 (likely the 6gb model) and n2 was the 1050 2gb and 1050ti 4gb, but just before we also had the 960 and 970 with weird amounts of VRAM right?

 

[mackerel]

If I'm right, from 2018 to 2020, Intel IGP was the most popular GPU (60% or something). It wasn't possible to set more than 2GB on most of the IGPs. Even then, not so many discrete graphics had less than 4GB.

I think older Intel iGPUs might have defaulted to reporting 512MB but not sure on this any more. I was shown elsewhere a Zen 2 APU reported 512MB too. My Zen3/Zen4 iGPUs default to 2GB although it could be reduced from there, with the bios warning not to do that.

Wait, just noticed, why is this thread on the CPU section?

I did a stupid? Since it was neither AMD or Nvidia specific I thought I posted it in general GPU. I can't rule out I clicked on general CPU by mistake.

I posted a video about the most used GPUs a while back, 1060s ruled the charts from 2016 to around 2021 (likely the 6gb model) and n2 was the 1050 2gb and 1050ti 4gb, but just before we also had the 960 and 970 with weird amounts of VRAM right?

960 was 2GB standard although there was a 4GB version. 9070 was 4GB. The 3.5GB memes were due to the last 0.5GB being much slower, but there was 4GB regardless!

3GB was used on 1060 3GB as well as some older AMD GPUs although I don't remember the exact model(s). I had to look up 5GB. A quick search revealed some Quadro/Tesla GPUs, and a China specific 1060 5GB too.

 

[freeagent]

Man.. I used my GTX580 Matrix Platinum for like 8 years lol.. let me tell you about pain. In 2017 I had enough and bought a 980 Classified used. I loved that GPU. I ran it till the plandemic and got a 3070Ti for an obscene amount of money. I didnt mind terribly, because the store had 7 when I called, and by the time I got there I got one of the last 2 lol..

Got my 4070Ti shortly after launch for 640USD plus tax during a crazy good Amazon sale.

Probably gonna have to use it for awhile in these uncertain times. Fecking Bullshit.