IDC releases interesting PC Processor sales numbers that show yet another growth for the 4th quarter of 2007.

In 2008 worldwide PC microprocessor shipments grew 8.5% sequentially in the fourth calendar quarter of 2007 (4Q07) to reach record levels for the second quarter in a row, according to new data from IDC. Growth in overall unit shipments and stable average selling prices stimulated overall market revenue to grow 9.6% sequentially to $8.7 billion.

Shipments of processors designed for PC servers stood out in the quarter, growing 17.0% sequentially. Shipments of processors for mobile PCs grew 10.3%, while processors for desktop PCs grew 6.5%. IDC analysis also reveals that, within each form factor, the percentage of high-end and mainstream processors grew at the expense of low-end processors. For example, in the desktop processor segment, high-end and mainstream processors represented 87.1% of processors shipped in 4Q07, up from 84.6% in 3Q07.

Processor vendor shares in the 4th quarter of 2007 did not change significantly from those in the 3rd quarter of 2007.
On an overall unit basis, Intel earned 76.7% market share, a gain of 0.4%. AMD earned 23.1%, a loss of 0.4%. These shares are identical to the shares of 2Q07.

IDC has a conservative forecast for PC processor demand in 1Q08 and 2Q08. "While processor shipments typically decline about 6% to 7% between the fourth quarter and the first quarter, economic concerns in the U.S. and the effects on corporate and consumer systems purchases could mean a stronger sequential decline in 1Q08," added Rau. "However, the weakness in the U.S. dollar effectively means a price discount for overseas markets that are driving PC unit demand, so this could have a mitigating effect."

IDC expects that mobile processors will continue their strong growth in 2008. "Despite how overall demand may affect them in the first half of 2008, mobile processors will continue on a double-digit growth track for the year and on track to surpass desktop processors in 2009, " said Richard Murphy, IDC Inquiry Analyst.
Via IDC.