Steam Hardware Survey: 32GB RAM Overtakes 16GB, 2K Resolution and Simplified Chinese Gain Share
The Steam hardware survey for September 2026 reveals a shift towards higher PC specifications among gamers. 32GB of RAM has become the most common configuration, surpassing 16GB, while Simplified Chinese is rapidly gaining ground.
Steam's September 2026 hardware survey indicates a continued upgrade trend in PC gaming hardware. The most significant change is in system memory, where 32GB RAM configurations have now surpassed 16GB, reaching 42.22% of users compared to 37.82% for 16GB. This marks 32GB as the new mainstream memory standard for Steam users, reflecting a demand for more robust gaming performance.
Display resolutions are also seeing a shift, with 2K (2560x1440) resolution experiencing a substantial increase to 27.04%. While 1080p (1920x1080) remains the most prevalent at 47.91%, its share has declined. In terms of user interface language, Simplified Chinese has seen a significant surge, growing to 31.39% and closely trailing English at 34.20%, indicating a growing user base in China.
Graphics card data shows Nvidia maintaining its leading position with 75.97% market share. The GeForce RTX 5070 has emerged as the most popular individual graphics card model. Storage capacity is also increasing, with over 1TB of total hard drive space now utilized by a majority of users.