Is the recession over? For computer chip makers – maybe. According to research firm IDC, worldwide PC microprocessor shipments in the fourth calendar quarter of 2009 (4Q09) rose 31.3 percent when compared to the same time in 2008. For the full year 2009, total PC processor unit shipments grew 2.5 percent, while revenue declined 7.1 percent to $28.6 billion.
"Compared to 3Q09, the modest rise in shipments in 4Q09 indicates that the market is returning to normal seasonal patterns," said Shane Rau, director of Semiconductors: Personal Computing research at IDC. "Compared to 4Q08, the huge rise in shipments indicates that the market has put the recession behind it. Both comparisons indicate that the PC industry anticipates improvement in PC end demand in 2010."
While Intel is still the clear leader in all segments, the underdog competitors of AMD and VIA managed to steal some market share away from the big dog.
As noted by the IDC:
In 4Q09, Intel earned 80.5% unit market share, a loss of 0.6%, while AMD earned 19.4%, a gain of 0.7%, and VIA Technologies earned 0.2%. In the full year 2009, Intel earned 79.7% unit market share, a loss of 0.7%, AMD earned 20.1%, a gain of 0.8%, and VIA Technologies earned 0.3%. In 4Q09 by form factor, Intel earned 87.3% share in the mobile PC processor segment, a loss of 0.7%, AMD finished with 12.7%, a gain of 0.8%, and VIA earned 0.1%. In the PC server/workstation processor segment, Intel finished with 89.8% market share, a loss of 0.6% and AMD earned 10.2%, a gain of 0.6%. In the desktop PC processor segment, Intel earned 71.1%, a loss of 1.1%, and AMD earned 28.6%, a gain of 1.2%. In 2009 by form factor, Intel earned 86.8% share in the mobile PC processor segment, a loss of 0.3%, AMD finished with 12.8%, a gain of 0.8%, and VIA earned 0.3%, a loss of -0.5%. In the PC server/workstation processor segment, Intel finished with 89.9% market share, a gain of 3.2% and AMD earned 10.1%, a loss of 3.2%. In the desktop PC processor segment, Intel earned 71.0%, a loss of 2.5%, AMD earned 28.8%, a gain of 2.3%, and VIA earned 0.3%, a gain of 0.1%.
