Nvidia: Video card sales growth beyond expectations, PC market is rebounding

The video card (graphics processing units) market for desktop computers could grow to 170,000 units this year if sales continue at the same pace as recorded in the first quarter of the year, Cristi Stroe, sales manager for South-Eastern Europe of US-based Nvidia, told ZF.

"Our initial estimate for the video card market in 2011 for Romania is that it will grow to 170,000 units from 150,000 units last year. Nvidia sales in the first quarter were 15% higher compared with the 9% forecast. It is a very good start and we may see a more significant market increase at the end of the year," said Cristi Stroe.

The average price of a video card sold in Romania is around 57-62 dollars, says the Nvidia representative, so this year the market could reach 10 million dollars (7 million euros). Nvidia expects to improve its market share this year, after last year's decline, amid delays of product launches. "For 2011 we target an over 70% market share, up from 61% in 2010. The growth will be based on the new full range of GeForce video cards, from the "entry" range to the top-of-the-line GEForce GTX 590 - the world's fastest GPU at present, which was launched last week."