GPU Availability and Pricing Update: April 2022

It’s time for our month-to-month graphics card pricing replace and in overly constructive information, the pattern in the direction of extra inexpensive GPUs has continued. This pattern began in January and we’re inching ever nearer to MSRP stage pricing. We’re not there but, however the finish is in sight.

Whether MSRP pricing is sweet sufficient at this level in 2022, is a wholly completely different query. We’ll get to that on this article, contemplating {that a} new technology of GPUs is about to launch later this 12 months.

One essential indication that pricing is bettering comes from, oddly sufficient, the hideously costly GeForce RTX 3090 Ti. This GPU launched at $2,000 just a few weeks in the past and you may presently purchase it from numerous retailers, new and in inventory, for that worth.

Buying a brand new graphics card like this at its MSRP was utterly remarkable only a 12 months in the past. The authentic RTX 3090 was commanding at the least $2,600 on the scalper market with a peak of $3,600 at one level. Pricing has fallen significantly since, and it feels just like the 3090 Ti is a little bit of a final hurrah for Nvidia to squeeze what it will possibly from from a quickly declining market.

As has been the case for a number of months now, it is attainable to purchase each current-gen GPU from main retailers all over the world. Availability is now not a difficulty. That’s to not say the semiconductor scarcity is over, as firms like TSMC nonetheless have a significant crunch on provide and file excessive ranges of demand. Estimates counsel that scenario will not change for a number of extra years. But these provide points are now not affecting graphics card pricing to the extent they as soon as have been, because the backlog of demand has cooled considerably.

A lot of players have been in a position to purchase playing cards in the previous few months, and naturally, the demand from the crypto mining market has fallen off a cliff on account of low profitability.

As it stands at the moment, comparatively costly playing cards just like the RTX 3080 Ti aren’t delivering even $3 of mining revenue per day, inflicting the time to revenue from shopping for certainly one of these GPUs on the MSRP to blow out over 400 days.

GPU Pricing Update

Retail pricing at shops continues to fall. For Nvidia GPUs, final month we confirmed that on common, Nvidia GPUs have been sitting at 50% above their MSRP for the most cost effective, in inventory fashions offered by Newegg. In April, that determine has dropped to only 28% above MSRP, because of a 12% drop in pricing month on month.

There is a little bit of variance relying on the precise mannequin we take a look at. High-end playing cards, particularly the GeForce RTX 3090 Ti and RTX 3080 Ti, can be found on the MSRP proper now. However, additionally they launched with inflated MSRPs, a lot greater than the merchandise Nvidia launched again in 2020.

The oldest fashions, such because the RTX 3080 and RTX 3070, are nonetheless among the many most overpriced playing cards within the line-up as these MSRPs are trying significantly unrealistic within the present market.

We’ve additionally seen bigger than common falls for 2 GPUs particularly: the RTX 3070 and RTX 3050.

Last month, the RTX 3070 was one of many extra overpriced fashions, sitting solely $10 beneath the RTX 3070 Ti — making it a pointless buy — you’d simply get the Ti mannequin. That’s been corrected now and there is a more healthy worth hole between these GPUs. But it is the RTX 3050 that is acquired the biggest worth minimize, falling 19 p.c from $390 to only $315 at the moment.

We suspect the RTX 3050’s worth adjustment has come about on account of stress from AMD’s mainstream graphics playing cards, particularly the RX 6600, which we have not too long ago been recommending in our funds mid-range construct collection.

AMD has been aggressively delivery RX 6600s into the market, and with its substantial efficiency lead over the RTX 3050 — 26% for rasterization at 1440p from our day-one evaluation information — the RTX 3050 is not a lovely purchase when offered at the next worth than the RX 6600.

As a end result, pricing has needed to fall to maintain up, though there’s nonetheless a approach to go earlier than the 3050 reaches the MSRP.

We can see extra proof of this once we take a look at AMD’s worth information, utilizing the identical methodology of trying on the least expensive in-stock fashions at Newegg. The RX 6600 is now being offered for barely beneath the MSRP, there’s an MSI mannequin accessible for simply $325 after a mail-in rebate, with its worth coming down 19% since final month. This competitors between the 6600 and RTX 3050 is nice for shoppers, placing critical stress on the decrease components of the marketplace for the primary time in years.

Overall, AMD GPUs have seen much less worth inflation over the MSRP. Last month the common determine was 38% and now we’re down to only 17% — that means that when combining AMD and Nvidia GPUs, present retail pricing is sitting at 25% above MSRP, the bottom fee we have seen since this newest technology graphics playing cards launched.

AMD playing cards fell in worth by 15%, together with substantial drops for high-end playing cards. The RX 6900 XT is now accessible at its $1,000 MSRP after factoring in mail-in rebates. That places it on the identical worth as Nvidia’s RTX 3080, which once more is nice for competitors.

Nvidia GPU Pricing Trend

Average Sale Price of eBay Completed Listings, New Products, third Week of Month

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We’ve simply been speaking about essential battles at $300 between the RTX 3050 and RX 6600; and at $1,000 with the RTX 3080 and RX 6900 XT — however the two manufacturers are aggressive elsewhere.

Just not too long ago we checked out how the RTX 3060 Ti stacks up towards the RX 6700 XT at roughly the identical worth, round $580, and got here to the conclusion that the GeForce product is the higher purchase.

AMD would want to additional decrease costs and get nearer to the $480 MSRP for the 6700 XT to be a fantastic choice, which we anticipate to occur on account of fierce competitors proper now.

With costs falling by 13% on common month on month, we’re truly on the level the place GPUs on the MSRP are inside attain for almost all of fashions.

We are already seeing some playing cards again at their launch worth, and we’re solely a month or two away from the identical occurring with different playing cards if the tempo of worth reductions retains up. We’d anticipate playing cards just like the RTX 3090, RTX 3050, RX 6700 XT and RX 6600 XT to all hit MSRP comparatively shortly.

The main challenge for patrons holding out for that candy MSRP goodness are the playing cards that launched in 2020 with pricing set for a completely completely different market. There are six playing cards throughout Nvidia and AMD’s lineups which are sitting with worth inflation above 30%, and we predict it is unlikely that pricing for these fashions will hit MSRP quickly.

Yes, we do anticipate pricing to get higher over time, however $500 RTX 3070s when the present worth is $730 appears out of attain for now, save for the occasional scorching worth low cost.

As we mentioned final month, the resurgence of the respectable retail marketplace for new graphics playing cards has crippled the scalper market on eBay. Pricing continues to fall for used graphics playing cards on eBay, in keeping with the reductions seen at retailers, however it nonetheless would not make a lot sense to purchase a card from some random particular person on eBay when pricing is similar as correct retailers, and even greater in some situations. We’d select the complete service of a retailer over a scalper day-after-day, particularly when costs are decrease, as coping with returns will likely be a a lot simpler course of.

AMD GPU Pricing Trend

Average Sale Price of eBay Completed Listings, New Products, third Week of Month

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When new GPUs fall in worth, so do used GPUs on eBay. The GeForce 20 collection fell in worth by 16 p.c on common and now solely the RTX 2060 Super sits above its launch MSRP.

Cards just like the RTX 2080 have fallen considerably in worth over the previous few months on account of stress within the mid-range, significantly from the RTX 3060 Ti and RTX 3060. Meanwhile the RTX 2060 is falling in keeping with the retail market aggressively dropping the value for the RTX 3050 and RX 6600.

It’s nice to see lots of worth motion for the GeForce 16 collection, pushed as soon as once more by sturdy competitors for brand new GPUs within the $300 market. With that stated, lots of these used GPUs do not make any sense, particularly the GTX 1660 Super, which for used fashions prices simply $15 lower than the RTX 3050 however is slower and lacks options like DLSS and ray tracing. In at the moment’s market, these fashions ought to value not more than the MSRP, in any other case they merely aren’t price it.

Owners of Nvidia Pascal period GPUs are dumping them on eBay in the mean time. This collection noticed the best month on month worth drops, 19% on common which is substantial.

It’s good to see that each one Pascal playing cards at the moment are effectively beneath MSRP, which is smart given their age. We do not assume it is price investing in a ten collection card in the mean time, apart from use as an affordable stopgap choice, as a result of they’re too previous at this level.

AMD’s Radeon RX 5000 collection noticed extra modest worth drops than Nvidia’s last-generation collection, falling by 12% on common. However because the begin of the 12 months, these playing cards have fallen off a cliff.

The RX 5700 XT was promoting for $900 in mid December, and at the moment they’re only a contact over $500. That’s how a lot affect the discount in mining profitability has had, together with improved availability for current-gen playing cards. Like with the GeForce 16 collection, it would not make sense for a gamer to purchase certainly one of these over a brand new product.

Then we get to AMD’s older GPUs. Vega playing cards have acquired the identical giant worth corrections because the starting of the 12 months, however solely fell barely this month. Meanwhile, the Polaris collection has seen extra typical worth drops, although lots of these playing cards aren’t price shopping for as a stopgap, apart from possibly the RX 570. For instance, I’d personally select a GTX 1650 Super for $190 used over an RX 580 8GB for $260 as they’re each comparable sufficient in efficiency.

Should You Buy a New GPU Right Now?

Overall, what we’re seeing throughout this month for GPU pricing is nice information. April noticed the biggest discount in GPU pricing of the 12 months: in January we noticed a ~5% drop, rising to round 8% in February, 12% in March, and now we have seen a further 15% drop for each new and used graphics playing cards.

Some GPUs are presently accessible on the MSRP, and a bunch extra will hit the MSRP inside a month or two if the present pattern continues. These are constructive indicators and we predict it is protected to say the pricing woes of 2021 are behind us now, at the least till next-generation GPUs launch.

With a brand new technology of GPUs on the horizon although, one of many key remaining questions is whether or not MSRP-level pricing is sweet sufficient for merchandise that launched way back to September 2020. We assume this can depend upon what kind of GPU you have an interest in shopping for, and naturally, your present scenario, as we’re certain many players are determined and will not be keen to maintain ready one other six months or extra.

Assuming you do have the capability to attend, we predict this example might be cut up in two segments of the market. Right now it would not make a lot sense for high-end patrons to splurge huge money on current-gen GPUs at or above the MSRP. When next-gen GPUs launch, AMD and particularly Nvidia will seemingly launch high-end merchandise first. This will trigger these top-end, poor worth merchandise to rapidly lose their standing out there.

A GPU just like the RTX 3090 Ti, which simply launched for $2,000, may very well be outdated later this 12 months by one thing quicker at an analogous worth. It’d make extra sense for that kind of purchaser to choose an RTX 3080 at $1,000, however even merchandise round that kind of worth level are seemingly to get replaced.

So it’s kind of tough and we do not assume playing cards with MSRPs over $700 are a wise buy in the mean time with pricing as it’s proper now. We’d actually wish to see that RTX 3080 get a lot nearer to $700.

As for funds to mid-range GPUs… these are unlikely to get replaced any time quickly. Remember how lengthy the wait was for playing cards just like the RTX 3050 and RX 6600?

The RTX 3050 launched 16 months after the RTX 3090, and the RX 6600 was 11 months after the RX 6800 XT. This technology was not the one one the place mainstream merchandise took ages to lastly launch. With the Turing and RDNA generations, it took each AMD and Nvidia round 6 months to launch sub-$300 GPUs, and that was in an everyday market.

In different phrases, a alternative for a GPU such because the RTX 3060 is probably going greater than a 12 months away. We’d haven’t any bother recommending individuals seize mainstream GPU fashions in the mean time — possibly not the RTX 3060 particularly as a result of it is nonetheless closely inflated — however playing cards just like the RX 6600 XT and RTX 3050 are unlikely to grow to be previous information inside a 12 months.

Even when newer high-end playing cards launch, mainstream GPUs will nonetheless be offered within the $300 vary, identical to Nvidia did with the GeForce 16 collection after Ampere launched. You would possibly see a bit decrease pricing in the event you proceed to carry out, however substantial worth to efficiency enhancements aren’t on the instant horizon.

Shopping Shortcuts:

• Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti on Amazon
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 on Amazon
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti on Amazon
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 on Amazon
• AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT on Amazon
• AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT on Amazon
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 on Amazon
• Intel Core i5-12600K on Amazon
• AMD Ryzen 9 5950X on Amazon
• AMD Ryzen 7 5800X on Amazon