More PC gamers are using GPUs with 16GB of VRAM than 8GB, according to the latest Steam data

Q: Which GPU models does the article cite as examples of 16GB cards included in the 16GB share?

The article cites GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5080, and Radeon RX 9070 XT as examples of 16GB cards. It also notes RDNA 4 GPUs such as the Radeon RX 9060 XT as another 16GB example.

Q: According to the article, what VRAM capacities make up the majority of gamers’ GPUs right now?

The article says the majority of gamers are using GPUs with less than 16GB of VRAM, driven by the popularity of 12GB cards; about 40% of gamers are playing with 8GB to 12GB cards. It also notes 16GB is currently the single largest capacity slice at 25.9% and 8GB is 25.3%, but overall capacities under 16GB make up the majority.

According to the latest Steam Hardware & Software Survey results for July 2026, there are now more GPUs with 16GB of VRAM than there are with 8GB.

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Kosta Andreadis

Senior Editor

Published Aug 4, 2026 2:26 AM CDT

1 minute & 45 seconds read time

TL;DR: Steam's July 2026 survey shows 16GB VRAM GPUs now slightly outnumber 8GB ones (25.9% vs 25.3%), driven partly by better Radeon reporting and new RDNA 4 cards, though most gamers still use under-16GB cards and 8-12GB GPUs remain common.

Voice: Kosta AndreadisSpeed

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Although not indicative of the full PC gaming landscape, Valve's monthly Steam Hardware & Software Survey data offers some great insight into trends and where the PC gaming hardware landscape is sitting. It's a valuable tool not only for hardware makers but also for game developers of all sizes looking to optimize their games to ensure they run on the various PC systems out there.

More PC gamers are using GPUs with 16GB of VRAM than 8GB, according to the latest Steam data 1

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When it comes to the latest July 2026 results, there's a notable change when it comes to VRAM capacity. That is, looking at all of the discrete and integrated GPUs out there across AMD, NVIDIA, and Intel, 16GB is the most popular VRAM capacity with 25.9% market share, followed by 8GB with 25.3% market share.

It's the first time we've seen 16GB take the lead, which covers a wide range of cards like GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5080, Radeon RX 9070 XT, and more. That said, when looking at the bigger picture, the majority of gamers are still gaming with GPUs and VRAM capacities less than 16GB, thanks to the popularity of 12GB cards like the GeForce RTX 3060 and RTX 5070.

Read more: Half of all PC gamers now have GPUs with more than 8GB of VRAM

Perhaps the biggest takeaway, and a metric that is worth following closely for the rest of the year, is the 8GB GPU's downward trend in popularity. One of the reasons for this could come down to Valve's monthly Steam Hardware & Software Survey data improving in recent months, where we're now seeing more accurate Radeon data, which has seen RDNA 4 GPUs like the Radeon RX 9070 XT and Radeon RX 9060 XT, two 16GB cards, being properly accounted for.

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Question #1

Which GPU models does the article cite as examples of 16GB cards included in the 16GB share?

Question #2

According to the article, what VRAM capacities make up the majority of gamers’ GPUs right now?

Question #3

How might improved Radeon data reporting in the Steam survey have affected the VRAM share results?

Improved Radeon data reporting meant RDNA 4 cards such as the Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9060 XT, both 16GB GPUs, were properly counted in the survey. That increased the reported share of 16GB VRAM GPUs and contributed to an observed decline in the 8GB share in the July 2026 results.

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By that same token, the big reason why most gamers (around 40%) are playing their games with 8GB to 12GB cards comes down to these being what's available across entry-level, mainstream, and mid-range GeForce RTX GPUs outside of the RTX 5060 Ti. And if we're going to see the needle shift toward 12GB and 16GB becoming the norm, they'll need to become the baseline moving forward. Something that has felt like it's been on the cards, no pun intended, for years. But with the current component crisis, 8GB could very well regain the top spot in Valve's Steam Hardware & Software Survey data in the months ahead.