Steam Survey Shows 16GB GPUs and 8-Core CPUs Becoming Standard

Valve's July 2026 Steam Hardware Survey reveals that 16GB graphics cards now account for 25.9% of systems, overtaking 8GB cards as the most common configuration on the platform.

For the first time, 8-core processors have become the most widely used CPU class at 27.85%, narrowly edging out 6-core chips which hold a 27.52% share.

The shift reflects rising hardware requirements for modern gaming, as 8GB VRAM and 6-core processors increasingly struggle to maintain performance in newer titles despite their continued widespread use.