John Peddie Research (JPR) has released its latest GPU shipment figures for the first quarter of 2009. The numbers are for the estimated number of graphics shipments and supplier market share. JPR says that these numbers are the leading indicator of the PC market since each PC sold has a GPU of some sort inside, though GPUs are used outside of the PC market as well.

JPR reports that during Q3 and Q4 2008, computer makers stopped buying GPUs in order to deplete inventory levels in preparation for a long recession. However, as inventories depleted the channel began to order GPUs again in Q1 2009. As a result of the renewed orders from the channel, NVIDIA and Intel are up for the quarter.

Whereas the growth rate for GPUs from Q4 2007 to Q1 in 2008 was -5.59%, the growth rate for Q4 2008 to Q1 2009 was 3.29%. When compared on a year-to-year basis the market still doesn't look good with shipments totaling 74.9 million units, a decline of 21.1% from the same quarter last year.

Despite an increase in orders across the category, AMD saw its market share decline during Q1 2009 from 14% in the previous quarter to 12.81% in Q1. A year ago, AMD held 17.67% of the GPU market. While AMD declines, its main rival NVIDIA grew its market share from 22.20% in Q4 2008 to 23.26% in Q1 2009.  Intel still owns the majority of the GPU market and grew its share of the category from 34.59% last quarter to 37.20% in Q1. However, year over year growth is still down for all GPU suppliers across the board.

JPR predicts that by Q3 2009 GPU orders will be back to the normal seasonality, but the market isn’t expected to reach the levels seen in 2008 until 2010. JPR maintains its prediction for an upturn in the PC market in Q3 and Q4. Intel has stated that it believes the computer industry has reached the bottom of the market.