Valve has released its October 2026 Steam hardware survey, revealing that 16 GB RAM configurations have reclaimed the top spot among participants. This shift follows the September 2026 survey, where 32 GB of RAM had overtaken 16 GB for the first time ever.
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, a 2021 card with 12 GB of GDDR6 memory, also returned to first place. This comes as DRAM prices rise and SK hynix reports capacity booked through 2029. Microsoft recently noted that Windows 11 is being tuned for 8 GB systems.
Hardware shifts occur as RTX 50 series supply remains limited and board partners reportedly pivot production back to the RTX 3060. While these opt-in results exclude consoles, AMD CEO Lisa Su warns that PC unit shipments could see double-digit declines in 2027.