Why Graphics Card Prices Are Falling (and How Much They Cost Now)
After months of limited supplies and aggressive scalpers, buying a graphics card or game console is getting easier. They are yet to return to Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP), but since January, prices have come down and availability has increased for all in-demand Nvidia and AMD graphics cards, as well as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to buy, maybe it’s finally here.
How much do GPUs cost now?
According to Tom’s Hardware , most GPUs are now only $200-$300 more than their advertised price. The extra $200-$300 is still out of reach for many buyers looking to upgrade their PCs, but it’s a lot better than double or triple the price some retailers were offering new GPUs and consoles just a few months ago. Some devices are selling even cheaper: The Xbox Series S is now selling for the regular MSRP of $300 at most retailers. And the best part is that stocks do not disappear with the advent of new units.
Why are GPUs and consoles finally getting cheaper?
This is great news for gamers, but why are prices finally dropping? As The Verge points out , several factors are likely at play here: firstly, import tariffs affecting technology products have expired and the global semiconductor shortage is finally easing , so some manufacturers can cut prices and restock stocks faster than before.
Secondly, third-party resellers simply don’t see the same demand as they did a year or two ago. This is partly because the US economy is still reeling from the COVID pandemic and some shoppers aren’t buying high-end luxuries like graphics cards or PS5s. However, according to a report from Tom’s Hardware, GPU sales are actually on the rise – likely due to manufacturers having lower prices and more inventory – so fewer customers need to buy through eBay and other resellers.
Similarly, the cryptocurrency and NFT boom is slowing down. Whether this is a sign that the bubble has finally burst or the market is temporarily stagnating depends on who you ask, but as a result, fewer cryptocurrency mining startups are buying up video cards in huge quantities. It is much easier (and cheaper) to buy PC components if you are not competing with the entire crypto mining industry.
Whatever the factors, the bottom line is that GPU and console prices are the lowest in years. Hopefully this trend will continue and prices will normalize over the next few months. However, it’s hard to predict how the market will change, so maybe now is the time to buy a new Nvidia or AMD GPU, or even a PS5 or Xbox Series X/S if you have the funds to do so.