Steam Hardware Survey: CachyOS becomes most popular Linux distro, 16GB RAM becomes more common
The October 2026 Steam Hardware Survey reveals significant shifts in PC gaming hardware adoption, reflecting the impact of rising prices throughout the year. The most notable change is in RAM configuration, where 16GB has overtaken 32GB as the most popular option among Steam users. Systems with 16GB now account for 41.42% of the user base, up 3.6% from the previous month, while 32GB configurations dropped 5.16% to 37.06%. This shift indicates that PC gamers are adopting more frugal hardware choices as prices continue to escalate.
The survey also shows several reversals from September’s results, including fluctuations in GPU and CPU popularity that periodically occur in Valve’s monthly data collection. Another notable finding is that CachyOS has emerged as the most popular Linux distribution among Steam users, continuing Linux’s growing presence in PC gaming.
These fluctuations are influenced by multiple factors, including Valve’s sampling methodology variations and regional differences in Steam usage patterns. The hardware trends suggest that while gamers continue to invest in gaming rigs, they are prioritizing value and efficiency in their component choices during a period of elevated costs.