Windows 11 is gaining ground among gamers, but the RTX 3060 remains the queen of gaming PCs
According to the latest Steam survey conducted by Valve, there is a clear trend of users migrating from Windows 10 to the newer Windows 11 operating system. This indicates an active refresh of the gaming community’s PC hardware, as well as growing support and optimization for the latest games on modern operating systems. At the same time, despite the release of newer generations of graphics cards, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 continues to hold the lead in popularity among gaming PCs.
The OS upgrade trend: Windows 11 is becoming the standard
Steam statistics, gathered from users’ PC configurations, show that the share of Windows 11 among gamers is steadily increasing. Over the past month, its presence grew by 0.71%, bringing the overall figure to an impressive 71%. This trend contrasts with the decline in Windows 10’s popularity, whose share has fallen below 23%. An important event accelerating this process was Nvidia’s decision to end support for Windows 10 in its newest drivers. This means that users of “the ten” may encounter compatibility issues and reduced performance in the newest games and software.
The average gamer PC in August 2026, according to Steam statistics, runs a 64-bit version of Windows 11. This clearly demonstrates that the gaming industry is moving forward rapidly, requiring modern operating systems from users for full functionality.
RTX 3060: relentless popularity or a sign of market stagnation?
An interesting fact remains the dominance of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, which launched in 2021. This model is still installed in almost 4% of gaming PCs. Its enduring popularity may be explained by several factors. First, the RTX 3060 offered an excellent balance between performance and price at launch, becoming a “people’s” choice for many gamers. Second, the graphics card market went through periods of significant instability and shortages, which may have allowed the RTX 3060 to remain an available and attractive option for a long time.
Although the RTX 3060 remains at the top, it is worth noting that popular graphics cards also include the RTX 4060, RTX 5070, RTX 3050, and RTX 5060. This suggests that newer models are also finding buyers, but the RTX 3060 seems to have become a kind of “gold standard” for many people looking for a reliable and proven solution.
Another notable detail is that the average gamer has 16 GB of VRAM. This significantly exceeds the minimum requirements of many modern games, allowing players to enjoy high graphics settings and smoother gameplay.
Gaming PC configuration: a detailed breakdown
In addition to the operating system and graphics card, Steam statistics provide a detailed picture of other components in the average gaming PC:
RAM: 16 GB. This is already the standard for comfortable gaming, allowing demanding modern games to run without major performance losses.
Processor: Clock speed from 2.3 to 2.69 GHz, with 8 physical cores. This indicates a gradual shift toward more multi-core processors that handle multitasking and processor-intensive gaming tasks better.
Monitor resolution: 1920 × 1080 pixels (Full HD). This is still the most popular resolution, suggesting that not all gamers are eager to move to 2K or 4K, or that their current graphics cards do not allow comfortable gaming at such resolutions.
Language: English. This confirms the global nature of the Steam platform and its core audience.
Storage: Free disk space from 100 to 249 GB, with total storage capacity above 1 TB. This points to a trend toward using fast SSD storage, while users still have enough space to store games and other data.
An interesting addition is the use of the Oculus Quest 2 VR headset. This indicates the growing popularity of virtual reality among gamers, although this figure is probably not yet mainstream.
The CPU market and Apple devices
In the CPU market, there is an almost even split between the two main players: 53% of gaming PCs are equipped with Intel processors, while 46% use AMD solutions. This reflects strong competition and a wide range of choices for users.
For macOS users, the statistics differ somewhat. The most popular models used for gaming by Apple users are the MacBook Pro (35%) and MacBook Air (29%). iMac desktop computers account for 7% of the market. This shows that gaming on macOS is becoming more accessible, especially considering recent improvements in the Apple ecosystem and game optimization for the platform.
As a reminder, in June NVIDIA once again put the 12 GB version of the GeForce RTX 3060 on sale, with the price remaining at 2021 levels. This may be another attempt to meet demand for this popular model or to stimulate sales amid competition from newer generations of graphics cards. Experts also note that in 2026, the used market offers many interesting graphics cards for under $150, making gaming more accessible to a wider range of users.
Roman Spas is the author of a blog about website development, IT news, web project promotion, design and modern technologies. In his materials, he explains complex digital topics in simple language, shares practical advice for website owners, entrepreneurs, marketers and specialists who want to better understand the online environment. The author's main focus is on effective websites, SEO, web design, internet marketing and technological solutions that help businesses develop in the digital space.
Windows 11 is gaining ground among gamers, but the RTX 3060 remains the queen of gaming PCs
According to the latest Steam survey conducted by Valve, there is a clear trend of users migrating from Windows 10 to the newer Windows 11 operating system. This indicates an active refresh of the gaming community’s PC hardware, as well as growing support and optimization for the latest games on modern operating systems. At the same time, despite the release of newer generations of graphics cards, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 continues to hold the lead in popularity among gaming PCs.
The OS upgrade trend: Windows 11 is becoming the standard
Steam statistics, gathered from users’ PC configurations, show that the share of Windows 11 among gamers is steadily increasing. Over the past month, its presence grew by 0.71%, bringing the overall figure to an impressive 71%. This trend contrasts with the decline in Windows 10’s popularity, whose share has fallen below 23%. An important event accelerating this process was Nvidia’s decision to end support for Windows 10 in its newest drivers. This means that users of “the ten” may encounter compatibility issues and reduced performance in the newest games and software.
The average gamer PC in August 2026, according to Steam statistics, runs a 64-bit version of Windows 11. This clearly demonstrates that the gaming industry is moving forward rapidly, requiring modern operating systems from users for full functionality.
RTX 3060: relentless popularity or a sign of market stagnation?
An interesting fact remains the dominance of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, which launched in 2021. This model is still installed in almost 4% of gaming PCs. Its enduring popularity may be explained by several factors. First, the RTX 3060 offered an excellent balance between performance and price at launch, becoming a “people’s” choice for many gamers. Second, the graphics card market went through periods of significant instability and shortages, which may have allowed the RTX 3060 to remain an available and attractive option for a long time.
Although the RTX 3060 remains at the top, it is worth noting that popular graphics cards also include the RTX 4060, RTX 5070, RTX 3050, and RTX 5060. This suggests that newer models are also finding buyers, but the RTX 3060 seems to have become a kind of “gold standard” for many people looking for a reliable and proven solution.
Another notable detail is that the average gamer has 16 GB of VRAM. This significantly exceeds the minimum requirements of many modern games, allowing players to enjoy high graphics settings and smoother gameplay.
Gaming PC configuration: a detailed breakdown
In addition to the operating system and graphics card, Steam statistics provide a detailed picture of other components in the average gaming PC:
An interesting addition is the use of the Oculus Quest 2 VR headset. This indicates the growing popularity of virtual reality among gamers, although this figure is probably not yet mainstream.
The CPU market and Apple devices
In the CPU market, there is an almost even split between the two main players: 53% of gaming PCs are equipped with Intel processors, while 46% use AMD solutions. This reflects strong competition and a wide range of choices for users.
For macOS users, the statistics differ somewhat. The most popular models used for gaming by Apple users are the MacBook Pro (35%) and MacBook Air (29%). iMac desktop computers account for 7% of the market. This shows that gaming on macOS is becoming more accessible, especially considering recent improvements in the Apple ecosystem and game optimization for the platform.
As a reminder, in June NVIDIA once again put the 12 GB version of the GeForce RTX 3060 on sale, with the price remaining at 2021 levels. This may be another attempt to meet demand for this popular model or to stimulate sales amid competition from newer generations of graphics cards. Experts also note that in 2026, the used market offers many interesting graphics cards for under $150, making gaming more accessible to a wider range of users.
Roman Spas
Roman Spas is the author of a blog about website development, IT news, web project promotion, design and modern technologies. In his materials, he explains complex digital topics in simple language, shares practical advice for website owners, entrepreneurs, marketers and specialists who want to better understand the online environment. The author's main focus is on effective websites, SEO, web design, internet marketing and technological solutions that help businesses develop in the digital space.
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