GPU prices finally dropping — and you can thank the crypto crash

GPU prices finally dropping — and y'all can give thanks the crypto crash

(Image credit: Tom'due south Guide)

PC gamers and anyone trying to upgrade their computers have faced a frustrating fourth dimension trying to discover a graphics carte du jour that hasn't been marked up to ridiculous prices. The ongoing global semiconductor shortage is the prime reason GPUs are scarce, but scalpers and cryptominers accept fabricated the whole state of affairs even worse. However, recent developments could lead to graphics cards becoming easier to snatch in the latter half of 2022.

Equally CNBC (via Tom'due south Hardware) reports, Bitcoin and Ethereum hit tape lows this week, reaching $30,000 and $2,200 (respectively). That is almost fifty% off both crypto coins' highest value. Merely even before this happened, there has been a gradual decline in crypto prices over the past month that has, in turn, lowered the price of GPUs. According to research conducted by Tom's Hardware, graphics cards are at present 11% cheaper on eBay compared to last month.

Graphics card prices in 🇩🇪🇦🇹 equally of Jan 23, 2022👉 Price level go down, a noticeable motion in the right direction.👉 Availability improve again, actually no problems to get cards.👉 ETH price requite promise for the future (come across yellowish line).https://t.co/fNSz3OX69i pic.twitter.com/leX4cynnGvJanuary 24, 2022

3DCenter.org (via TechRadar) posted a graph illustrating the falling prices of GPUs, which you can see above. Nvidia GeForce RTX 30 series cards are selling for well-nigh 77% above retail price compared to 87% over a month ago. AMD'due south Radeon RX 6000 GPUs are as well selling for reduced prices, retailing for 67% over MSRP instead of 83%.

Tom's Hardware posted a nautical chart (bachelor from the link higher up) that lists prices of the latest AMD and Nvidia GPUs from late December and compared them to the by week's prices. On average, graphics carte du jour prices dropped past 5% or more. Some, like the RTX 3080 (10GB) and RX 6600, savage by ten% or more. The site notes that GPU book on eBay plummeted for almost all GPU models.

With Bitcoin and Etherium hitting record lows, cryptomining has become less feasible. This may be bad news for cryptominers, but it'south bully news for people who oasis't been able to purchase a current-gen GPU. However, information technology's unclear if the bottom will proceed falling out of the Bitcoin market. If cryptomining becomes more feasible over again, nosotros may see the price of GPUs rise.

render image representing where to buy GeForce RTX 3070 — (Prototype credit: Nvidia )

Another recent development could besides make GPUs easier to discover. According to Digitimes (via Tom'due south Hardware and PC Gamer), a shortage of Ajinomoto Build-up (ABF) substrates has contributed to the global GPU shortage – a fact that very few know about. The report says Asrock and TUL (Powecolor's parent visitor) wish to increase GPU shipments in the second one-half of 2022 when supplies of ABF substrate fabric are expected to improve.

What the heck is ABF substrate? To put it simply, it's a vital material for avant-garde semiconductor manufacturing that is used to create the circuitry connecting nanoscale microprocessor dice materials to the larger terminals on printed substrates. If that went over your caput, don't worry; all y'all need to know is that more ABF means more than graphics cards (potentially).

Hopefully, these developments atomic number 82 to more readily available cards that don't cost an outrageous amount. Nvidia is reportedly gearing upwards to launch new RTX twoscore series GPUs in late 2022, and it would exist squeamish if they landed in a marketplace where regular customers could obtain those next-gen cards for a reasonable toll.

Tony is a computing author at Tom'southward Guide covering laptops, tablets, Windows, and iOS. During his off-hours, Tony enjoys reading comic books, playing video games, reading speculative fiction novels, and spending too much time on Twitter. His non-nerdy pursuits involve attending Hard Rock/Heavy Metallic concerts and going to NYC bars with friends and colleagues. His work has appeared in publications such as Laptop Mag, PC Mag, and various independent gaming sites.