Wow Recent survey results.

[Topweasel]

I just had Valve request a survey at the end they give a up to date results. And some of them are shocking.

The closest curent competitor to the 7800 series is the X1600. In fact the 7800 series is eight times more populer then the X1800 and x1900 combined. As expected of 97% of the dual GPU setups are SLI and over all the Nvidia is out used buy about 7%. Not surprising the 7900 isn't adopted as well Nvidia hope (availability issues anyone?).

The Most surprising part you ask. The overall lead of the 6600 and most surprising the 3rd place of the 5200. I know the game isn't the most video intensive but come on who is trying to play HL:2 and CS:S with a 5200.

The truths from this (and trust me a 500,000 sample group is a great sample)?

1. It looks like the 6000 series is the the current modern champion.
2. No matter what over all sales numbers that ATI and Nvidia have thrown out for all to see it is very obvious that ATI has taken a heavy hit on high sales since the introduction of the X800 and not the X1800 as most would think.
3. Middle end cards have been even worse for ATI, Nvidia out numbers the 9600 by over 20,000 and the next middle end card to do well is the X700 at 17,000 total.
4. Some would think the numbers get distorted by the ages of some of the cards, but over all with the Geforce4 MX and Geforce 4 cards still listed I don't think that holds much wieght.

To look at the numbers yourself go here.

 

[fierydemise]

I know the stream survey is the best we have but I don't think you can draw that many conclusions from it, I know 711,000 (as of my post) is a great sample but it isn't exactly a random sample, I don't know the exact specifics of the stream survey so I'm wondering if anyone can tell me what happens when you upgrade (are your results added, changed, ignored, etc.).

 

[F1shF4t]

Originally posted by: Topweasel
I just had Valve request a survey at the end they give a up to date results. And some of them are shocking.

The closest curent competitor to the 7800 series is the X1600. In fact the 7800 series is eight times more populer then the X1800 and x1900 combined. As expected of 97% of the dual GPU setups are SLI and over all the Nvidia is out used buy about 7%. Not surprising the 7900 isn't adopted as well Nvidia hope (availability issues anyone?).

The Most surprising part you ask. The overall lead of the 6600 and most surprising the 3rd place of the 5200. I know the game isn't the most video intensive but come on who is trying to play HL:2 and CS:S with a 5200.

The truths from this (and trust me a 500,000 sample group is a great sample)?

1. It looks like the 6000 series is the the current modern champion.
2. No matter what over all sales numbers that ATI and Nvidia have thrown out for all to see it is very obvious that ATI has taken a heavy hit on high sales since the introduction of the X800 and not the X1800 as most would think.
3. Middle end cards have been even worse for ATI, Nvidia out numbers the 9600 by over 20,000 and the next middle end card to do well is the X700 at 17,000 total.
4. Some would think the numbers get distorted by the ages of some of the cards, but over all with the Geforce4 MX and Geforce 4 cards still listed I don't think that holds much wieght.

To look at the numbers yourself go here.

actually just to point out HL2 is suprisingly quite playable at 800 * 600 everything med settings on a 64bit fx5200, its nothing special but u can play it fine.

And i always thought that the 6000 series cards are better than the x800 ones, just as the x1900xt > 7900gtx > x1800xt > 7800gtx, or what ever they are, i'm still happy with my 7800gt.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

most people don't buy add in video cards. they simply use those that are bundled with their computers. i'm sure the 5200's/X1600's are quite popular cards in most mainstream computers out there.

 

[Noema]

Originally posted by: Sudheer Anne
most people don't buy add in video cards. they simply use those that are bundled with their computers. i'm sure the 5200's/X1600's are quite popular cards in most mainstream computers out there.

Agreed. A lot of people who play games don't even know what hardware lies inside their Dells and HPs. And very often these machines come with older cards or 'budget' versions of other cards. Pretty much every Dell Dimension comes with an X300 or something like that. And the survey reveals only a small minority has 1 GB or more RAM; most people have barely over 512...further proof they are likely running on Dells or E-Machines.

Enthusiasts with SLI'ed 7900GTXes and Opterons like the posters in these forums are a minority.

 

[Gstanfor]

Most people here would be horrified to learn just how many people still purchase FX5200/5500 and not just as part of a system either. The 6600 figures are no suprise to anyone selling hardware for a living either.

 

[dug777]

FX5200 runs hl2 & and CS:S very nicely at 1024 iirc

 

[LOUISSSSS]

it does? lol
i was bitching playing cs:s 1280x1024 with my 6800 vanilla crap
x1900xtftw =]

 

[imported_importpsycho]

wow, there was a time when I as low on cash and had to down grade cheap 5200.
it locked up from overheating while playing Starcraft and Diablo2.... and these aren't even 3Ds I had to change the cooler to a chipset cooler /w fan to get it working properly....
I can't believe 5200 can play HL2 just fine....

 

[F1shF4t]

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
it does? lol
i was bitching playing cs:s 1280x1024 with my 6800 vanilla crap
x1900xtftw =]

I'm sure a lot of people would be thrilled to have a 6800 nu card.
It is true having greatest best spoils us, like before i was fine with my fx 5700 untill i got my 6800 ultra. Once u get a good card u can never go back

 

[Gstanfor]

Originally posted by: importpsycho
wow, there was a time when I as low on cash and had to down grade cheap 5200.
it locked up from overheating while playing Starcraft and Diablo2.... and these aren't even 3Ds I had to change the cooler to a chipset cooler /w fan to get it working properly....
I can't believe 5200 can play HL2 just fine....

What brand was it? Was your case ventilation adequate? Not all 5200's are Yum Cha brand...

 

[Griswold]

If there were more than 2 games being played via steam, then I'd call a 500k sample survey interesting. Different type of games are played by different people with different priorities/needs and therefore different hardware.

 

[Lonyo]

90% of people have a DVD drive.
We need more DVD only games.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
90% of people have a DVD drive.
We need more DVD only games.

QFMFT. The things cost like $25 these days (less than the actual games), publishers really need to stop releasing games on 5-CD (or more) versions...

 

[yacoub]

What those results should remind you is that what you read and see here is not representative of the real world PC gaming population.

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: Lonyo
90% of people have a DVD drive.
We need more DVD only games.

QFMFT. The things cost like $25 these days (less than the actual games), publishers really need to stop releasing games on 5-CD (or more) versions...

I did hear DVD's are more expensive to make, although I'm not sure if that's 1CD vs 1DVD or multiple CD's vs 1DVD

 

[Topweasel]

Originally posted by: yacoub
What those results should remind you is that what you read and see here is not representative of the real world PC gaming population.

Why? It still a very large sample deverse in the cards being used. CS:S happens to also be the most played Multiplayer game out there and is one that can not and will not ever die. You would be surprised at how many people are still playing CS 1.6.

True steam doesn't have any Oblivion level games but I am sure a large enough people playing oblivion still play CS:S to make a valid statement about card purchases. Considering Highend cards only sell in the tens of thousands and not hundred of thousands I would probably guess that more people are playing CS:S and oblivion then not.

Whats the real key here is the amount of dominance with Nvidia on the highend considering that most techs consider the source engine to be more of a ATI engine.

Some people may discount it because the game is a year and a half old but I really do think that this is more indicitive of desktop video purchases then you guys are willing to give it credit for.

 

[Regs]

Talk about a smear thread.

 

[Genx87]

The closest curent competitor to the 7800 series is the X1600. In fact the 7800 series is eight times more populer then the X1800 and x1900 combined. As expected of 97% of the dual GPU setups are SLI and over all the Nvidia is out used buy about 7%. Not surprising the 7900 isn't adopted as well Nvidia hope (availability issues anyone?).

I would say the fact it has been out for ~1 month has more to do with that than anything else.

 

[mcmikemc]

Originally posted by: fierydemise
I don't know the exact specifics of the stream survey so I'm wondering if anyone can tell me what happens when you upgrade (are your results added, changed, ignored, etc.).

When they do the survey a window pops up from Steam that ask if you would like to participate in a survey. If you say yes it takes a snap shot of your rig right then and uploads it to the Steam servers.

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: Griswold
If there were more than 2 games being played via steam, then I'd call a 500k sample survey interesting. Different type of games are played by different people with different priorities/needs and therefore different hardware.

What? If there were more than 2 games being played via Steam? :laugh: There are a lot of games people play over Steam. I still play TFC over Steam, almost every day. There are a ton of people still playing MP games based on the HL1 game mods.

 

[Topweasel]

Originally posted by: mcmikemc

Originally posted by: fierydemise
I don't know the exact specifics of the stream survey so I'm wondering if anyone can tell me what happens when you upgrade (are your results added, changed, ignored, etc.).

When they do the survey a window pops up from Steam that ask if you would like to participate in a survey. If you say yes it takes a snap shot of your rig right then and uploads it to the Steam servers.

Yeah and if an entry is already been made for your account it gets removed, so if you have been asked 4 times in the last year you are still only counted once.

 

[Topweasel]

Originally posted by: Regs
Talk about a smear thread.

Sorry it wasn't meant as a smear thread, maybe it comes off as a downer on ATI, and I may have hit it a couple of times more then needed but part of that may have come from the fact I was truly surprised. I really expected that this would be heavily in ATIs favor as HL2 has always been considered a ATI game. That was also what in my mind made me decide that this was a better example of true hardware purchases because it showed that alot of people even if they are playing an newer game stil have and are running new Vid cards.

Again alot of the downers on ATI are just a few examples of information grabbed from this, ATI has several wins but in areas I already expected. Planely the Gfx and 9800 series was domintated by ATI, in fact the 5800 doesn't show up on the list at all. The 9600 is the second highest used gard there. But niether of these were surprises.

I was surprised that the 6600 had lead the whole pact, although a year ago or two the 9600 might have had alot more then the 6600 has now. But what really hit me hard was the combintation of high end and mid level hits ATI had taken. But event his might help with the strong early showing of the X1600.

But to turn it around Nvidia has a huge gap where almost a whole generation doesn't show up. The 5900 is near the bottom, the 5700 has decent but poor showing, the 5800 doesn't exist at all. The only thing that does its job is the 5200 and I can't believe anyone is playing with that. But outside the 5200 I wasn't surprised.

Like Sud said most people don't upgrade their cards so you can get an idea from the X300, 6600, 5200, and X1600 sales where each sits in the OEM market. And general upgrade cards which are in the 200+ category you also see paterns.

Some people will ignore this and pass it off as a limited or biased survey but I think it has always given a decent example since the 9800 of what the market is like.

 

[Topweasel]

Originally posted by: bamacre

Originally posted by: Griswold
If there were more than 2 games being played via steam, then I'd call a 500k sample survey interesting. Different type of games are played by different people with different priorities/needs and therefore different hardware.

What? If there were more than 2 games being played via Steam? :laugh: There are a lot of games people play over Steam. I still play TFC over Steam, almost every day. There are a ton of people still playing MP games based on the HL1 game mods.

And don't forget the Sin Episodes that start next month. I just pre-ordered it myself.

 

[rstrohkirch]

Someone mentioned it above, this is a STEAM survey - not a HL2 engine survey

Go to the steam website and look at the monthly online player totals for their games and you will see just how many cs 1.6/hl1 based players there are