GPU Availability and Pricing Update: September 2021

It’s time for our month-to-month graphics card pricing evaluation replace, yet one more one. It’d be nice if pricing was regular and we truly didn’t should make these updates, however monitoring GPUs is helpful in case you might be fascinated with leaping the gun… and this month we will have a good time a moderately unlucky anniversary.

It was simply over a yr in the past that Nvidia launched the primary GeForce RTX 30 collection graphics playing cards, the RTX 3080 on September 17 and the RTX 3090 shortly after. Lots of pleasure again then with Nvidia promising to promote these GPUs for $700 and $1,500, respectively.

Supply at launch was low, and from there it solely acquired worse with ever growing demand and different market elements at play. In the house of 12 months it’s been almost unattainable to purchase certainly one of these in any other case nice GPUs off the shelf on the MSRP.

And again then it was shaping as much as be such an excellent time to purchase a graphics card. We had simply sat by 2-3 years of common GPU launches with Nvidia’s RTX 20 collection not delivering on the worth entrance and AMD’s incapability to compete on the excessive finish, so a number of avid gamers had been hoping to leap on a collection of GPUs that lastly seemed good and worthy of an improve. Unfortunately, upgrading proved to be tough, as a result of excessive pent-up demand from avid gamers ready years for an improve, extra demand because of the rise of gaming all through the pandemic, provide points, and then the crypto growth that started in January, which crippled the market.

But sufficient about that, let’s discover how the market is trying as we speak…

Market Update

Most individuals at this level know why we’re nonetheless unable to purchase GPUs on the MSRP, however I needed to focus particularly on a few issues that we’ve been monitoring over the previous couple of months.

The first of these is AMD’s Radeon RX 6600 XT which launched in early August. AMD promised that this is able to be a $380 GPU — not the most effective MSRP, however they claimed that loads of inventory can be accessible at this value stage. It was clear shortly after launch that this in all probability wouldn’t be the case for any vital stretch of time, however now that we’re over a month post-release, it’s develop into exceptionally clear.

If something, pricing for the RX 6600 XT has continued to worsen since launch, and it merely shouldn’t be attainable to purchase one at an affordable value in some areas just like the United States. In Australia, it was accessible on the MSRP for about 24 hours, however days later that value had jumped up past the MSRP and hasn’t returned to first rate ranges. In reality, proper now you’ll should fork out the equal of ~50% value inflation for that GPU in most markets. So at this level it’s secure to say that AMD’s authentic promise of excellent availability on the MSRP has confirmed to not be true for any vital time period.

Why has the worth gone up? Simply put, the unique value was effectively beneath the present going value for different GPUs available in the market. As quickly as AIBs and distributors get a whiff of demand and know they will rip off prospects, and as quickly as AMD stops caring about making the worth look good across the launch window, costs started to rise.

Retailers are as soon as once more telling us about all the same old points with distributors elevating costs, forcing bundles and so on, simply now it’s being utilized extra to the 6600 XT than it was earlier than. Retailers additionally inform us that since launch, miners are paying more and more extra consideration to this card and its worth proposition, which has diminished provide within the chain as playing cards filter out to miners earlier than they hit retail, elevating the worth within the course of.

Yes, you’ll be able to blame miners once more.

With all of that mentioned, the 6600 XT remains to be cheaper in a number of areas than Nvidia’s closest opponents, the RTX 3060 and RTX 3060 Ti. Despite unattractive retail pricing, availability is definitely fairly good in lots of areas, simply not within the US.

At PC Case Gear (Australia), proper now they’ve inventory of each single present technology GPU, and for many variants you’ll be able to select from a major variety of AIB fashions with just a few out of inventory. It’s merely the nasty pricing meaning these GPUs aren’t flying off the cabinets. Availability has been first rate for months now and getting higher relying on the place you’re positioned. The longer overpriced fashions sit on cabinets, the extra stress there will likely be to scale back costs.

No GPU for You!

While availability could be first rate, avid gamers aren’t going to have the ability to purchase inexpensive GPUs at retail any time quickly for 2 causes. #1: Nvidia aren’t making any vital efforts to deliver the lower-cost RTX 3050 to retail. We may see AMD launch an RX 6600 non-XT, however that’s unlikely to assist a lot both. While the 3050 has been accessible in laptops for a while now, we haven’t heard something from our contacts to recommend the cardboard is coming to desktop consumers anytime quickly. Reason #2: is the large motive, and that’s crypto mining.

Of course, it is now clear that GPU pricing is immediately linked to mining profitability. It’s not associated to provide, it’s not associated to the pandemic, or something like — GPUs are being priced consistent with how a lot cash you can also make mining on them. That’s the information that AIBs and distributors are utilizing once they set pricing, and costs clearly change in keeping with modifications to mining profitability.

Crypto followers will in all probability rush to the feedback to level the blame some place else, however pricing hasn’t been altering within the face of gaming demand — which has remained excessive for a yr now. The fundamental motive why you’ll be able to’t purchase a GPU at an honest value is as a result of it’s worthwhile to mine crypto on them, and miners are keen to pay larger costs indefinitely for primarily a cash printer. If mining wasn’t worthwhile on fashionable GPUs, you’d in all probability have a brand new GPU in your palms proper now on the MSRP, as a result of the file stage of provide this technology up thus far is sufficient to fulfill the gaming demand.

The Crypto Rollercoaster

So, what’s been taking place over within the land of mining within the final month? Pricing of the most well-liked coin for mining, Ethereum, has been comparatively flat month on month, there was a interval a few weeks in the past the place costs had been up, that cooled off, and for the previous few days there’s been a decline. But it’s a risky market as ordinary, so on the entire it’s been flat.

Meanwhile in that interval, Ethereum problem has risen about 15%, which means {that a} first rate quantity of additional mining {hardware} is within the pool in comparison with a month in the past. This would have been in response to the rising crypto costs during the last two months, however it has plateaued barely prior to now week. What this implies is that miners have been serious about shopping for GPUs for mining, contributing to larger costs, although the influence is that when problem will increase, the rewards for mining lower. So seeing an increase in problem is each an excellent and dangerous signal for avid gamers.

Overall, this has led to a drop in mining profitability, proper now it’s down about 25% month on month, although it does depend upon the precise GPU in query. Cards the place Ethereum shouldn’t be probably the most worthwhile selection of coin for mining — equivalent to Nvidia’s LHR GPUs — have seen extra extreme declines. However, most of those declines have occurred prior to now week after crypto’s peak in value, and as a result of there’s at all times a lag earlier than that is mirrored in GPU pricing, we’re solely simply beginning to see these results now.

GPU Pricing Update

How has this affected GPU pricing on eBay, which we’ve been monitoring month-to-month for a while now. Here we have now Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 30 collection taking a look at accomplished eBay listings prior to now week. Most mid to high-end GPUs haven’t modified in value a lot in comparison with what we noticed a month in the past. The RTX 3080 Ti has by 4% on common, whereas the RTX 3070 decreased by 4%. Then at both finish of the size we have now barely bigger modifications with the RTX 3090 growing by 10%, and the RTX 3060 Ti happening in value by 9%, with this GPU nonetheless seeming to be in good provide proper now.

At the second, a majority of Nvidia’s line-up, particularly for his or her mid-range choices, are LHR merchandise which means they’ve been hit more durable by latest reductions to mining profitability. This has been mirrored to some extent in pricing, though on the entire Nvidia playing cards have been comparatively flat. I think we’ll solely see value reductions if the crypto market continues to say no for just a few extra weeks because it has finished as of late. It was solely a few weeks in the past that the outlook for miners was far more optimistic and that helped to maintain GPU costs excessive.

AMD’s Radeon RX 6000 collection GPUs aren’t in good provide, and there haven’t been many gross sales of playing cards just like the RX 6800 XT, and particularly the RX 6800 prior to now week. However, the RX 6700 XT continues to be accessible, and its value has risen 11% month on month, near the extent of June pricing. With that mentioned, costs are nonetheless 25% decrease than the height for this card in March, and there was no change in pricing for the RX 6600 XT which remains to be a $640 GPU on the scalper market on common.

Based on the volumes we’re seeing on eBay, and at retail, plainly AMD are closely prioritizing their mid-range GPUs on the expense of high-end merchandise. But with none limitations on mining efficiency, AMD playing cards are extra vulnerable to modifications in mining profitability, and that’s harm them this month.

This has affected value per body worth for consumers taking a look at a GPU for gaming. In August and in prior months, the RX 6700 XT (and additionally the 6600 XT) have been the outright leaders in worth. However with some Nvidia GPUs seeing value drops, whereas AMD playing cards have risen in value, value per body is loads nearer in September than it has been. Right now, the RX 6700 XT is barely 6% cheaper per body than the RTX 3060 Ti, in comparison with 23% cheaper in August.

When you issue within the extra options that Nvidia GPUs provide equivalent to DLSS and superior ray tracing efficiency, it’s not the case the place AMD has an total lead in worth. With this value per body, I’d personally be selecting the RTX 3060 Ti over the RX 6700 XT, whereas the RTX 3070 Ti can also be not trying too dangerous up in opposition to the RX 6800 and 6800 XT. It’s solely Nvidia’s larger finish playing cards which might be poor worth in comparison with the remainder of the market, however in fact we typically nonetheless do not advocate paying inflated costs (except you can also make cash enjoying video games :).

Used GPU Pricing

On the used market, costs for Nvidia RTX 20 collection are up barely month on month, with most playing cards within the mid-single digits for will increase. The exception is the RTX 2080 Ti, which is priced far too near the extent of a model new RTX 3070 Ti. That type of pricing is ridiculous when for $50 extra you will get higher efficiency and a model new product, however in fact, mining.

Then we have now the GTX 16 collection that are nonetheless common within the sub-$500 market. Currently these GPUs are disgustingly overpriced on the used market and merchandise just like the 1660 Ti and 1660 Super have gone up fairly a bit. You’re confronted with spending round double these card’s MSRP, and that’s unlikely to get higher quickly with Nvidia’s reluctance to launch an RTX 3050.

GPUs from Nvidia’s GeForce 10 collection have risen in value by 5% on common, with some loopy asking costs for playing cards just like the GTX 1080 Ti. On the entire, 10 collection playing cards are promoting used for under barely beneath their launch value 4-5 years in the past, or above that launch value within the case of the GTX 1060 6GB. The 1080 Ti can also be poor worth in comparison with model new RX 6600 XTs for gaming, though the 1080 Ti is a lot better for mining, in order at all times that explains a number of the discrepancy.

It’s no shock to see that in a month the place crypto mining was extremely worthwhile and getting extra worthwhile for a major chunk, that AMD’s RX 5000 collection jumped in value by a considerable quantity. The RX 5700 XT stays a superb card for mining, almost on the stage of the RTX 3070 with out LHR limits, and higher than the RTX 2080 based on Whattomine.

Similar results with AMD’s older GPUs equivalent to Vega 56 and 64, each these GPUs are additionally good for mining and are sought-after in that market, so most avid gamers ought to in all probability promote their Vega card to a miner and transfer as much as the next performing product. Cards like Vega 56 fetching over $700 today is fairly wild, and even playing cards just like the RX 580 8GB aren’t good worth given their a lot larger value than the GTX 1060 6GB.

Not a Great Outlook

That does it for this month’s GPU pricing replace. On the entire, costs for graphics playing cards rose month on month for September, however solely barely, with most playing cards recording a value hike within the mid single-digit vary. Obviously, we’d prefer to see costs go the opposite means, so from that perspective it’s disappointing, nevertheless the crypto market has been going robust till not too long ago, so seeing solely a small rise in pricing isn’t too dangerous.

We nonetheless don’t advocate avid gamers to pay inflated costs for graphics playing cards, although we’re at some extent the place playing cards just like the RTX 3080 at the moment are a yr outdated, so naturally some individuals will likely be determined to improve and may have been ready for a yr or extra. If you do fall into that class, GPUs just like the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, RTX 3060 and RTX 3070 Ti are on the higher finish of the worth scale and Nvidia’s LHR program has been efficient at lowering costs on what would in any other case be robust performers for mining.

Value has tightened up not too long ago between AMD and Nvidia as a result of this, which makes playing cards just like the 6700 XT more durable to advocate at present scalper costs. However whereas the 6600 XT has risen in value and continues to rise, it’s additionally price contemplating.

The fundamental issue that is going to see graphics card costs drop is a drop in mining profitability. That’s been taking place throughout the previous week, however will want a number of extra weeks earlier than that’s mirrored within the GPU market, and in fact, profitability may rise subsequent week, who is aware of. Supply and availability is much less of a priority, given GPUs are available on retailer cabinets in most areas and have been for a while. It’s principally right down to pricing now, which is dictated by mining profitability at this level.

We’re additionally coming as much as the vacation interval, so it will be fascinating to see how pricing goes throughout that point and how availability is affected. You’d suppose that may enhance demand, however lots of people are nonetheless ready for inexpensive GPUs from the earlier vacation interval, so it’s exhausting to say. We’ll be retaining an eye fixed out and letting you already know in these updates all through the remainder of 2021.

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