PC microprocessor shipments & revenue up

Personal computer shipments were down last quarter and now face a difficult 2012. But according to researcher IDC, microprocessor makers saw increases in both revenue and shipment figures last year, supporting the notion that PCs are just down but not out.

Rebounding off a lackluster 2010, the global PC microprocessor industry saw a 13.2 percent year-over-year revenue increase, bringing the total to $41 billion, revealed IDC. Last fall, revenue neared $11 billion — a slim 1.8 percent bump over the previous quarter, but a bigger 14.2 percent spike compared to the same time in 2010.

“The average selling price (ASP) that OEMs pay for PC microprocessors rose more than 9 percent in 2011, making 2011 the second consecutive year of notable ASP increases,” said Shane Rau, director of Semiconductors: Personal Computing research, IDC.

Shipments of the chipsets also saw annual growth across three major segments: mobile (3.9 percent), x86 server (9 percent) and desktop (2.7 percent). Combined, the average growth in 2011 landed at 3.6 percent.

Intel retained the top spot, holding onto 80.3 percent of the microprocessor market in Q4 2011. AMD took second place with 19.6 percent, leaving VIA Technologies with the remaining .1 percent.

IDC said it expects microprocessor shipments in 2012 to improve by 5.1 percent, debunking previous theories that an HDD shortage following floods in Thailand would impact PC shipments.