GPU costs have been dropping for some time, and to get forward of the crash, Nvidia slashed costs of its RTX 30-series GPUs a few weeks again, by as a lot as $500 in some instances. It sounds too good to be true — an excellent little bit of justice after almost two years of the GPU scarcity locking avid gamers out — however the value drops aren’t as vital as we’re being result in imagine.
It’s true that some GPUs are as a lot as $500 much less now, however the finest graphics playing cards from Nvidia are nonetheless promoting nicely above checklist value. Excessive-end avid gamers rejoice, as GPUs are cheaper than ever. Everybody else? Effectively, it appears like we’ll simply need to cope with the scraps.
For the fanatics
The RTX 3090 Ti is $500 lower than it was once, and that’s what you have been ready for, proper? A $2,000 GPU is an excessive amount of, however a $1,500 GPU is a special story (learn: sarcasm). I’ve seen headlines left and proper in regards to the GPU market crashing, focusing solely on the tippy-top of high-end graphics playing cards that most individuals can’t afford and, frankly, don’t need.
For value cuts, Nvidia slashed $500 off the RTX 3090 Ti, $200 off the RTX 3090, and $100 off the RTX 3080 Ti. The 12GB RTX 3080 technically acquired a value reduce all the way down to $800, too, however that GPU by no means had an official checklist value within the first place. Each different GPU Nvidia at the moment gives remains to be sitting fairly on the checklist value they launched at two years in the past.
These cuts solely apply to Founder’s Version playing cards technically, although there’s a trickle impact into third-party playing cards from Asus, MSI, Gigabyte, and others. I’ve seen the value cuts myself as I replace our roundup of GPU costs each week, monitoring the crash of Nvidia’s high-end choices over the course of some weeks.
The difficulty is that these value reductions aren’t making their manner all the way down to the playing cards that really matter, just like the RTX 3070 for 1440p avid gamers and the RTX 3060 for 1080p. Not solely have these playing cards not acquired a value reduce, however they’re nonetheless promoting for above checklist value.
Above checklist for all the pieces that issues
It’s no secret that the overwhelming majority of PC avid gamers nonetheless play video games at 1080p, however you gained’t discover any of the finest 1080p graphics playing cards sitting among the many current value cuts. Take the Asus RTX 3060 ROG Strix V2 OC for example. It ought to value round $330 to $350 based mostly on the checklist value of the RTX 3060, however it’s promoting for $480 on the time of publication.
You discover it increased up the stack, too. The RTX 3070, which ought to value round $500, is promoting for $650 as a minimum and above $700 on the most. The marginally extra highly effective RTX 3070 Ti is even worse, with the PNY RTX 3070 Ti XLR8 listed for almost $870 at some retailers. That doesn’t appear like a lot of a value reduce.
I perceive why Nvidia desires to chop costs, particularly after some conspicuous releases just like the 12GB RTX 3080. For all of the graphics playing cards that matter, although, you’re not solely lacking out on value cuts, however you’re spending greater than checklist value.
This difficulty completely applies to Nvidia graphics playing cards. AMD’s Sapphire RX 6750 XT Nitro+, for instance, is on the market at checklist value, whereas the MSI RX 6600 Mech 2X is on the market for $50 lower than MSRP. Needless to say AMD by no means formally slashed costs, both; playing cards are simply dropping in value as a brand new technology approaches.
RTX 40-series, some day
You’d usually see GPU costs drop as a brand new technology approaches, and it’s been rumored for a protracted whereas that Nvidia is ready to launch its RTX 40-series GPUs later this yr. Nonetheless, the newest rumors present some perception into what may very well be happening with mainstream GPU costs proper now.
The newest rumors say that Nvidia is solely releasing one RTX 40-series GPU this yr, whereas the remaining will arrive in 2023. It’s only a rumor, so don’t take it as truth. Nonetheless, it’s an fascinating observe in mild of the place mainstream GPU costs are proper now and why Nvidia’s midrange and low-end choices haven’t see a value reduce.
AMD has already confirmed that its next-gen RX 7000 GPUs will launch on the finish of 2022, and that has clearly had an impression on the costs of AMD graphics playing cards throughout the board. Nvidia hasn’t mentioned something on the document but, although, and if the vary is delayed, that might prop up the value of RTX 30-series playing cards for a couple of months.
I’m speculating, as a result of I don’t have a view into the inner machinations at AMD or Nvidia. However the level stands: Should you’ve seen the current GPU value cuts and are out there for an Nvidia GPU, it’s possible you’ll wish to do some additional analysis into the value. As a result of, typically, all the pieces under the RTX 3070 Ti remains to be promoting for above checklist.
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