The workstation market posted another round of solid numbers in the second quarter of 2010, but that growth is expected to slow in Q3, according to Jon Peddie Research. The technology and market research firm reports that the industry shipped 795,000 workstations worldwide in Q2, resulting in sequential growth of 9.6% and a year-over-year increase of 32%. The 32% year-over-year growth matched the largest JPR has seen since Q1'06, though that shouldn't be surprising when considering how dramatically the market had fallen by Q2'09.

Dell and HP once again in a deadlock for market leadership. In the second quarter, HP and Dell were once again in a virtual tie for leadership in the workstation market. Dell just nudged HP in units, but by JPR's estimates, HP nosed out Dell in revenue. For yet another quarter, JPR calls this race a tie.

The industry has had some hints that the workstation numbers for the second quarter were going to be strong. The industry has a consistent leading indicator for workstation market performance coming from the related market for professional graphics hardware. That market for professional GPUs (graphics processing units, either add-in cards or mobile modules) had been on a hot run, exceeding growth expectations for the preceding four quarters, especially Q1'10, which posted an all-time high of 1.3 million units. All those professional GPUs have to go somewhere, and the vast majority eventually ship in workstations. As professional GPU shipments rise, then so will workstation volume.

By contrast, the professional graphics hardware market moderated in the second quarter, essentially flat from Q1. Accordingly, while Jon Peddie Research expects workstation growth to continue into the third quarter, the firm anticipates a more moderate pace. And given concerns that the previous quarters' exceptionally hot numbers were hinting at a market getting too far ahead of itself, that moderation is probably a healthy thing.