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The GTX 970 is still the most popular GPU in Steam’s Hardware Survey

Back at the start of this year, Steam's Hardware Survey showed that the GTX 970 had climbed the ladder to become the most popular graphics card amongst the users involved. Since then, we have had a slew of graphics card launches based on new architecture from both Nvidia and AMD but still, the GTX 970 appears to be the most popular GPU, according to this month's Steam Hardware Survey.

Not every single Steam user takes part in the survey every month so that is worth keeping in mind when looking at the figures. Still, amongst participants, the GTX 970 was found in 5.03 percent of PCs, with the GTX 960 coming in second place, in 3.59 percent of systems.

NVIDIA-GeForce-GTX-970-Stylized

Obviously, the GTX 970 has a huge lead over recently released GPUs, given that it came out back in 2014. Still though, it is always interesting to see where things rank. Interestingly enough, Windows 10 64-bit is also now the most popular OS amongst Steam users, with 44.67 percent of Steam gamers running it. This is followed by Windows 7 64-bit in second place, which can still be found on just over 30 percent of systems in the hardware survey.

1080p is still the most popular resolution, which shouldn't really come as much of a surprise and finally, the HTC Vive is the most popular VR headset right now according to the survey. Around 0.18 percent of participants were running a Vive headset, while the Oculus Rift CV1 landed in second place with 0.09 percent.

There are other interesting bits of information to be found, like how many people are running 8GB of RAM, how many people are still running a dual-core CPU and even how many Steam users have a microphone set up. You can take a look at the full list of results, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Despite the VRAM controversy, the GTX 970 still sold very well. On top of that, the GTX 970's launch price was lower than expected and made it seem like a bargain at the time. Right now, the 970 still has a pretty big lead over other GPUs so it will be interesting to see how long it takes for current generation cards to catch up. 

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32 comments

  1. How many people are running 8gb ram?

    Well thats maybe because thats all you need for 90% of stuff

  2. But if you buy a new PC, you might as well order one with 16GB as the price difference is small.

  3. It is one thing to acknowledge that GTX970 represents the highest fraction to imply popularity, but that fraction is just 5% of the whole. 5% isn’t an example of popular.

  4. I only had 3GB a couple of years ago and upgraded to 8, that was when i was still on x58.. then i moved to x99 and went overboard with 32GB, would have been more than fine with 16 though.

  5. Interesting that Win10 has still not QUITE beaten out the combined totals of Win 7 and Win 8 users. That means a majority of Steam users are still only using DX11. I expect the last minute push of Win10 upgrades to show up in the August stats so perhaps DX12 will finally be in the lead.

  6. The GTX 970 was number one on Amazon’s best selling graphics cards list here in the US for close to two years. It sold extremely well.

  7. Maxwell was decent value overall when you look at the 970, 980 not so much.. 980Ti was great value compared to this gens 1080 though IMO.. since when does a new higher end non Ti card cost more than a Ti card of previous gen?

    The pricing needs to come down a lot with these Pascal GPU’s, but i wonder when it will happen.. 1080 and Titan prices are kind of ridiculous, but then Titan cards have always been insane prices.

    I guess a 1080Ti will be next but the question is when, the Titan was released so quick after the 1080 which is a bit unusual. Are they planning Volta to be released early or something?

  8. <<e:u. ★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★✫★★:::::::!!bx924a:….,….

  9. 5.03 percent of total Steam users proves what ?? The number of Nvidia trolls themselves are more than enough to regularly poll to that percentage.

  10. Steam survey analyses your computer. It doesn’t ask you questions.

  11. No it doesn’t. Its a poll manually done.

  12. Bitterness much? sheesh

  13. Aye, I have 16GB on my X99 and it’s fine B|

  14. How is this news? The 10 series just launched… you expect it to replace the tons of 970s out there this quick??

  15. since when does a new higher end non Ti card cost more than a Ti card of previous gen?

    Considering there has only been one Ti card before the 980 Ti, it’s impossible to determine a trend. The 780 (not Ti) was $650 at release, which is the same price as the 980 Ti, so there’s certainly nothing unusual except for a going trend upward, which is natural.

  16. this is not surprising at all..

  17. Like I said, I’m not denying the highest fraction as it is raw data against the sample size.

    I just don’t put much stake in the idea that 5% is a majority as implied by calling a particular computer component “popular”.

    That is the only reason articles like this are written: To maintain the status quo that enthusiasts must follow to be part of this group. If anything it is to reassure the ironically insecure elite members that their PC upgrade choices are still relevant against the recent mainstream releases by AMD and nVidia.

  18. 1070 will replace 970 in popularity, when prices drop by some 50-60$. Polaris 10 that was designed to fight with 970, won’t get 10% popularity of 970

  19. It’s incredible that the most popular GPU, the 970, is in only 5% of PCs. 5%- that’s hardly “popular”, more like “least unpopular”!

  20. I’m on 32GB too, totally overkill but its great to see only 25% used lol 😀

  21. The power of marketing and brainwashed fanboys, nVidia polished the drivers for the GTX 970 at launch to make it look good against the R9 290X and now can’t even beat the R9 290, it fulfilled its purpose, now in time for Pascal lol

  22. absurd thinking without any proof .

    benchmarks still show otherwise

  23. nope . its auto

  24. Sure, its easier for stupid people like you to whine and complain and not even bother to do some research, here is some. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0570f416f1d4dbbd0eaeda8c9fad5aa817126bd238cf9430c74f9b29c19d5797.jpg

  25. one? you are the stupid one , Go check latest reviews of 1080s and 1070s

    it clearly shows the 970 consistently outpacing the rx 380 and the rx290x . you were quick to sprout some good bs . The 970 is faster than the 780ti too , the 780ti was at its peak when the 970 was released , its only natural 970 got better over time . you are a amd fanboy while i stick to whats best and get superior performance

  26. Do you know how to read r tard? I gave you the evidence and yet, here you are with your bad English and horrible fanboyism, the 290X clearly outperforms the GTX 970 as it stands today, and even outperforms the GTX 980 on DX12 applications. You are one sad loser, I laugh at you goat lover.

  27. you are an idiot you retard one thing doest prove anything at all . AND LOL at their intended 1080p res a stock 970 is 4% behind a 390 , and are you ignoring the fact all custum 970s run near 1500mhz xD you are the sad looser here , maxwell had huge oc potential , comparing a refrence design on pascal is like comparing the least powerful product , rx series didnt oc as well , fact . you amdick can fap to your rx while i enjoy superior vr gaming with my 1080

  28. Cry cry CRY!!! HAHAHA, I made you twitch a nerve, don’t worry kid, I don’t swing that way, just go back to your cave and your wife goat. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/da42848fd96f3c1145a03345268aa3d401ab2b1a7b97c0d5d1ef181c44f50349.jpg

  29. Thats teh best you got ? id die before a amdick like you could even matter to me xD , Goat ? thats all you got ? you are a truly a jealous basement dweller that can only dream of having glorious 4k gaming with cards like the 1080

  30. Glorious gaming? LMAO

    https://tpucdn.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_1070_Gaming_Z/images/perfrel_3840_2160.png

    25% performance advantage while costing twice, making that game from unplayable 19 to 24fps LOL, cry some more goat lover

  31. you ar such an idiot . its not even funny . look at the resolution ,neither of the cards can provide any playable fps at that resolution except for the 1070 series .

    the rx 480 was touted as better than 980 , it it falls between the 970 and a 980 , the rx480 is an awful over clocker as proven by reviews , maxwell is an awesome ocer , from default 1200mhz reaching 1450-1510 speeds , which is a 18% over clock.

    who told you bout goats ? you self entitled western moral less pos . shows your class and ignorance xD

    the 970 can be bought for sub 210$ now ,

    at the end i enjoy my pascal setup while you can only dream of 4k :3 , burn more

  32. Here comes the goat lover again LOL

    What were you saying again? Maxwell can’t do DX12 or Async without losing FPS, its a POS, get a job so you can buy a real GPU instead of playing lawyer defending your cheap GTX 970 lol

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0570f416f1d4dbbd0eaeda8c9fad5aa817126bd238cf9430c74f9b29c19d5797.jpg