Why This Matters
This article highlights the evolution of 49 significant GPUs over 30 years, illustrating technological advancements, shifting market trends, and the changing landscape of gaming hardware. Understanding this progression helps consumers and industry professionals appreciate the rapid innovation and value shifts in graphics technology.
Key Takeaways
- GPU technology has advanced from simple 3D accelerators to highly complex, transistor-rich processors.
- The most popular GPUs are significantly more affordable than flagship models, reflecting consumer preferences for cost-effective options.
- Market share and usage data, like Steam surveys, reveal the dominance of certain GPUs over others in gaming communities.
The Data Drop #043 Every GPU
That Mattered 49 graphics cards. 30 years. From Quake to Cyberpunk. 49 GPUs 30 Years 92B Transistors (peak) Launch price 2025 dollars Scroll
The Timeline Drag, click an era, or use the arrows. 49 cards across 30 years.
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The Showdown Pick any two GPUs. See how they compare.
GPU 1 GPU 2 vs
The Evolution Every GPU plotted by year and transistor count. Click any dot to explore.
NVIDIA NVIDIA AMD / ATI AMD / ATI 3dfx 3dfx Intel Intel
What Gamers Actually Use Steam Hardware Survey, March 2026
The flagship costs $1,999. The most popular card costs $329.
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