Processor shipments jump by nearly a third

Global shipments of PC microprocessors leapt an impressive 31.3 per cent compared to the same quarter in 2008, claimed a new report today.

Analyst firm IDC admitted the rise was relatively small when compared to the previous quarter and revenues dropped by just over seven per cent to $28.6 billion (17.6 billion).

However, it still broke all previous records for shipments in a single quarter.

"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, in a statement.

"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."

Intel still led in the market share stakes with 80.5 per cent. Yet this was at a small loss of 0.6 per cent which was taken up by AMD, reaching a 19.4 per cent market share.

IDC concluded the report by increasing its estimates for growth this year of 15.1 per cent compared to the 2009 figures.

"We're looking forward to the end of the second quarter and the second half of the year as corporations qualify new client and server platforms and open up their IT budgets further," added Rau.

"Combined with healthy consumer spending, the resumption of corporation spending will lead to a healthy 2010."