Future of server spending looks bright. The server market is experiencing unprecedented growth driven by the increasing demand for AI infrastructure. According to a new IDC report, market revenues have more than doubled since 2020, reaching $235.7 billion in 2024. A significant portion of this revenue comes from servers with embedded graphics processing units (GPUs), which saw a nearly 193% year-over-year growth in Q4 2024. 

The availability of GPUs has spurred this surge in spending, marking the highest levels the market has seen in the past 15 years, according to Lidice Fernandez, IDC’s group Vice President for enterprise infrastructure. In this article, HOSTNOC will share seven statistics that gives you a clear idea about the future of server spending..

Future of Server Spending: 7 Stats That Will Blow Your Mind

Here ae seven statistics that will give you a glimpse into the future of server spending.

1. Server Market Reaches $235.7 Billion in 2024 

The server market has seen remarkable growth over the past few years, reaching a staggering $235.7 billion in 2024, according to IDC. This explosive increase is a direct result of the soaring demand for AI infrastructure. The future of server spending is driven by cloud service providers and large hyperscalers, who are scaling their operations to meet the growing needs of AI and data processing. This represents a more than two-fold increase in just a few years, marking a new era in the global technology sector.

1. Future of Server Spending Will Be Driven by GPUs: $125 Billion from Embedded GPUs

More than half of the total server revenue, approximately $125 billion, came from servers with embedded Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). This segment grew by nearly 193% year-over-year in Q4 2024, underscoring the essential role GPUs play in the current tech landscape, especially for AI workloads. The increase is attributed to the wider availability of GPUs in the market, enabling industries to deploy more sophisticated AI models, creating unprecedented demand for servers that can handle this power. In fact, GPUs will drive the future of server spending.

1. 91% Year-over-Year Growth in Server Spending in Q4 2024

Q4 2024 saw a dramatic spike in server market revenues, growing by 91% year-over-year to reach $77.3 billion. This marks the second-highest growth rate since 2019, a testament to the increased urgency around AI infrastructure. The surge in demand for high-performance computing power has directly translated into a record-breaking revenue influx for the server market, reflecting the ongoing investment in AI and machine learning capabilities across industries.

1. Non-x86 Servers See a 250% Revenue Surge

Non-x86 servers have experienced an unprecedented 250% increase in revenue, now accounting for $22.5 billion in Q4 2024. This growth is largely driven by the demand for Nvidia’s ARM-based Blackwell chips, which are optimized for AI workloads.

The rise of non-x86 servers is challenging the traditional dominance of x86 architectures, signaling a shift towards more specialized, performance-driven server designs. This shift is expected to continue as AI deployment increasingly favors non-x86 systems for their efficiency and scalability.

1. Nvidia’s Dominance: 90% of GPU Server Shipments

Nvidia continues to dominate the server GPU space, commanding over 90% of total shipments of servers with embedded GPUs in Q4 2024. This monopoly positions Nvidia as the undisputed leader in AI infrastructure, as their GPUs are a critical component in the high-performance computing requirements for AI model training and inference. Nvidia’s technology is central to meeting the growing global demand for AI processing power, cementing its role in the future of server infrastructure.

1. ARM Adoption Fuels Growth: China’s Huawei Plays Key Role

Non-x86 server growth is significantly fueled by the rising adoption of ARM-based processors, particularly Nvidia’s Blackwell chips. This trend is amplified by governmental support, especially in China, where Huawei has emerged as a key player in providing ARM processors for the local market. This shift in processor architecture is expected to keep growing, with increasing demand for these energy-efficient and high-performance chips powering the next generation of AI infrastructure.

1. Investment Growth to Slow by 2026 as Infrastructure Stabilizes

While the server market is experiencing significant growth today, IDC anticipates that the pace of investment will slow down by 2026. This slowdown is expected as enterprises move beyond the initial phases of AI deployment, where heavy infrastructure investment was necessary, to more mature stages such as model inferencing and fine-tuning. As a result, companies will repurpose existing infrastructure, extending its useful life and reducing the need for new hardware. Consequently, AI adoption may plateau as businesses find ways to optimize their existing systems.

What will the future of server spending looks like in your opinion? Share it with us in the comments section below.