Windows 7 is due in October, while will ship in September.

The surge in shipments of graphics chips is yet another sign that PC sales may regain their footing after being knocked flat when the global economy slowed last year. IDC, which released preliminary numbers for second-quarter PC shipments last week, said it expects computer sales to continue growing during the second half of this year.

"New product launches in the second half of the year combined with seasonal growth and greater economic confidence resulting from factors such as government stimulus, a more liquid housing market, relatively stable stock market and interest rates, and progress in the auto and financial industries, should support the expected return to growth by year-end," IDC said in a .

Even as IDC expects PC shipments to rise higher, they believe a recovery will be uneven. Much of the demand for PCs in recent months has come from consumers, with most companies still refraining from buying new computers or replacing old ones.