Nvidia’s dominance in the graphics card world just hit another level. In the second quarter of 2025, the company captured a staggering 94% of the discrete GPU market, according to new figures reported by ExtremeTech. That’s the highest share the company has ever recorded and a far cry from its position only a decade ago, when AMD was still a serious competitor.
The numbers come from Jon Peddie Research, which tracks GPU shipments globally. AMD’s market share has slipped to just 6%, while Intel, which once pushed its Arc graphics line as a third contender, has effectively disappeared from the discrete GPU race. Nvidia didn’t just hold steady—it actually grew by more than 2 percentage points compared to the first quarter.
What’s driving the surge? Analysts suggest that part of it comes from unusual buying patterns tied to U.S. tariffs. Tom’s Hardware noted that shipments rose 27% year-over-year, with system builders and consumers snapping up GPUs ahead of expected price hikes. Builders are even installing multiple GPUs per machine, pushing the attach rate to over 150%.
Meanwhile, AMD’s struggles seem to stem from pricing as much as performance. Its latest RDNA 4 cards in the RX 9000 lineup are capable, but TechRadar pointed out that inflated launch prices kept many buyers away. Nvidia, on the other hand, kept shipping more affordable Blackwell-based RTX 5000 cards through the summer, giving consumers a wider range of options across different budgets.
The bigger picture, though, is more complex. Even with Nvidia’s near-monopoly, Jon Peddie Research forecasts the overall GPU market will shrink slightly over the next few years. Factors like improving integrated graphics, the rising cost of high-end gaming PCs, and shifts in consumer spending could dampen growth.
For now, Nvidia stands almost unchallenged. With its GPUs powering not just gaming but also AI, data centers, and even automotive platforms, its reach is broader than ever. Whether AMD or Intel can mount a serious comeback remains uncertain, but for gamers and PC builders, it looks like Nvidia will be the default choice for the foreseeable future.
