The fates of the computer and GPU market are closely tied together. Poor computer sales means the GPU market is doing poorly. At the same time robust GPU sales means that computers are selling well also. That means that the GPU market can be a great indicator of how the PC market is doing.

Research firm Jon Peddie Research has released its GPU shipment results for Q2 2009. The research firm notes that while the market is still in a recession, Q2 showed signs of improvement. Q1 to Q2 sales traditionally decline according to JPR with summer vacations and consumers getting ready for the fall.

Today your average notebook has integrated graphics that are built into the notebook and many desktop systems have the same sort of graphics. Some of the higher-end gaming and multimedia notebook and desktop computers have discrete graphics, which are graphics cards that fit into motherboard expansion slots.

Today the bulk of the notebook market has integrated graphics. However, JPR says that by 2012 integrated graphics will be all but gone. The research shows that in 2008 67% of graphics processors shipped were integrated.