Why Graphics Cards Will Get Even More Expensive in 2021 [update]
High-end Nvidia and AMD graphics cards were already expensive in 2020 (if you could find them), but their prices are only going up. And we’re finally starting to see how dramatic this price hike will be.
As of December 31, 2020, GPUs and motherboards are now included in tariffs set by the Trump administration for imports from China. These PC components were previously exempt from these rates, but those exemptions expired at the end of last year and no renewals were applied. That means prices for high-end GPUs will rise 25 percent, including the new RTX 3090, 3080, 3070 and 3060 Ti from Nvidia, as well as the RX 6800 and RX 6800 XT from AMD.
The latest Nvidia and AMD GPUs were nearly impossible to buy in 2020 as COVID-19 impacted manufacturing and supply chains. Retailers usually sell out in seconds every time they restock, no thanks to scalpers and cryptocurrency miners who have used bots to buy up as many GPUs as possible.
The purchasing experience has gotten so bad that many retailers have implemented anti-bot tactics such as waitlists, more aggressive human checkout systems, and strict limits on the number of GPUs customers can purchase. However, these rates will only make the process more complicated and expensive, even if you are lucky enough to get a card.
Just days after the tariff cuts expired, several third-party graphics card manufacturers and personal computer manufacturers updated their prices to reflect the new import taxes.
ASUS was one of the first to raise prices, and its products have experienced one of the steepest price spikes to date . For instance:
- ROG Strix 24GB GeForce RTX 3070: Was $ 500, now $ 780
- ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3090: Was $ 1,500, now $ 2,110
- ASUS TUF Radeon RX 6800 XT: Was $ 810, now $ 970
- ROG Strix Radeon RX 6800 XT LC: Was $ 900, now $ 1080
EVGA GPUs are more expensive, too, but the hikes aren’t that great (at least for now). EVGA sells many custom cards , but on average most of them only cost $ 70- $ 90 more after the tariff changes. Here’s a rundown of the price differences for the more “affordable” RTX 3000 series cards:
- EVGA 8GB GeForce RTX 3070 Black Gaming: Was $ 560, now $ 630
- EVGA 10GB GeForce RTX 3080 Ultra Gaming: Was $ 730, now $ 800
Like ASUS, EVGA is warning its customers of sudden price increases. It also respects previous prices until April 16, 2021 for customers who have already joined its waiting list and can buy it before the deadline. However, in the future, anyone who signs up for the waiting list will have to pay a higher price.
However, not all companies are so transparent about price increases. Zotac has without warning raised the manufacturer’s suggested retail price for its graphics cards and has yet to release a statement of the change. Here’s a selection of the updated pricing for Nvidia cards:
- ZOTAC GeForce RTX 3060 Ti: Was $ 440, now $ 530
- ZOTAC GeForce RTX 3070: Was $ 540, now $ 640
- ZOTAC GeForce RTX 3080: Was $ 750, now $ 840
- ZOTAC GeForce RTX 3090: Was $ 1,550, now $ 1,900
Prices shown are valid from January 13, 2021, but may change at any time.
Pricing isn’t just affecting GPUs; Solid state drives, processors, power supplies, and other PC components may experience a 7-25% price increase. As Tom’s Hardware notes, the price hikes for these items probably won’t be as severe as the price hikes for GPUs, but if you’re buying or building a new PC, or upgrading multiple parts of an existing setup, you’re bound to notice the difference.
Our best advice for anyone looking to build or upgrade their PC right now is to shop wisely and research thoroughly. You can’t avoid price increases, but you also don’t need to buy an overpriced scalped GPU from eBay or the Facebook Marketplace just because it’s available.
Resources like VideoCardz.com , GPUBoss , Reddit ( r / GPU , r / GraphicsCards , r / nvidia , r / amd ), Google Shopping tab, and even Discord communities can help you compare specs and prices and find available stocks. At some point, the number of graphics cards will stabilize (hopefully) and buying a new graphics card from a legitimate vendor at the standard MSRP will be easier, even if the GPU cost is higher than at launch.
It is also possible that new GPUs will be released that will be cheaper or lower the price of the current high-performance models. In fact, Nvidia just announced the GeForce RTX 3060, which will serve as an “entry-level” RTX 3000 series card, and a new line of mobile RTX 3000 GPUs for laptops. At the very least, having more models to choose from can increase your chances of purchasing the card you want. Until then, shop wisely, but be prepared to pay a little more because of politics; If you can wait until we see what the Democratic-led government is doing with tariffs, if anything, it might be worth your wallet.
The article was originally published on January 11, 2021 and was updated on January 13, 2021 with specific price changes for Nvidia and AMD GPUs, AMD and Nvidia statements about GPU shortages, information on announcements of the latest Nvidia RTX 3000 series graphics cards.