NEW YORK — Global personal computer sales saw a modest dip in the first quarter of 2014, as the pace of decline was eased by replacements of older PCs using Windows XP. Figures released Wednesday by Gartner showed global sales down 1.7 percent year-over-year at 76.6 million units in the first quarter of 2014.

A separate survey by IDC showed a 4.4 percent drop to 73.4 million. Analysts said the PC market is still ailing amid a shift to mobile devices such as tablets but saw a brief respite with the replacement of machines using Windows XP, for which Microsoft ended its technical support this week.

Japan saw a stunning 35 percent year-on-year jump in PC sales, helped by the replacement of Windows XP machines and a sales tax change, the analyst noted.