Market research firm John Peddie Research has released a report that indicates the end of the market for the popular integrated graphics processor (IGP) chipset.
In 2008 67 percent of the graphics chips shipped were IGPs, and JPR predicts that in 2011 it will drop to 20 percent, and by 2013 it will be less than one percent.
IGPs presently exist as an efficient and cost-effective way to ship systems with graphics, even if the capabilities of the hardware are sometimes barely passable. IGPs are, however, usually adequate for 2D functions such as running office applications.
Set to replace the IGP are on-chip graphics solutions. Intel’s upcoming Westmere chips will put the graphics processor and memory on the same chip (but not yet on the same die) as the CPU; and Intel’s Pineview will integrate the graphics and memory processors into the same die as the Atom. AMD will also be heading into the same area with Fusion.
JPR believes that the shift away from the IGP and into the embedded graphics model will not negatively impact the discrete graphics and add-in board market. In fact, JPR is of the opinion that with hybrid configurations will become more popular, thus increasing sales of discrete GPUs.
