A growing trend in PC design is the integration of graphics processors in chipsets, market watchers report.

In-Stat notes that, although high performance graphics will continue to be offered in both integrated and standalone configuration, the majority of general business and consumer graphics processors are moving towards integrated implementations.

“With chipsets now sporting functions such as memory control, USB, 1394, and now graphics, they are growing into much more than their humble beginnings as glue logic,” said Ian Lao, In-Stat analyst.

According to newly published In-Stat research, consumer desktop PC chipset revenue growth is forecast to be 11.2 per cent in 2007, rising to 14.8 per cent in 2008.

Consumer notebook PC chipset revenue growth is forecast to be 27 per cent for 2007.

Notebooks are not likely to see dual graphics processor implementations due to form factor and current power consumption issues.