Reddit users are starting to report that graphics card availability has increased in recent weeks, posting images and videos taken from stores showing off a host of popular GPUs.
It's a far cry from this time last year, when bots were mass-buying the best graphics cards online, and people had to queue up several city blocks if they wanted to try and buy a card in a physical store.
we're_emerging_from_the_dark_ages of r/pcmasterraceMost of the images appear to have been taken at various Micro Center stores in the US, so it's also worth noting that while this is good news for those living in the US, it's not bad news. accurate representation of the global market, with some users noting that other regions, such as Eastern Europe, still face shortages.
micro_center_stock from r/pcmasterraceHowever, there is another silver lining to take from this: while almost all GPUs are still priced above their MSRP, availability has been one of the driving forces behind these price increases.
With stock available now, it's not impossible that the current generation of AMD RDNA 2 and Nvidia Ampere family cards will be available at the price they were supposed to sell for at launch... although for the next generation launch of GPU.
I_forgot_to_register_the_rack_with_the_3050_3060 from r/pcmasterraceWe're already seeing prices start to drop as well, so while you might find cards like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 even more expensive than they should be, they're getting more affordable with each passing month. That said, there's no guarantee that current GPUs will fully drop to their MSRP given the inflation and other market conditions that have emerged over the last couple of years.
However, waiting a bit longer can still drive prices down, so we are definitely in a much better position than last year. If you've been waiting for the GeForce RTX 3080 or Radeon RX 6800XT to drop to a reasonable price, now's your chance to pick one up.
Analysis: Why is the GPU market improving?
There is no single reason we are seeing these improvements, but rather a combination of several changes that have collectively helped increase availability and reduce demand in areas other than PC gaming and building enthusiasts.
Mining Ethereum using trading cards is not as viable as it used to be now that the cryptocurrency has transitioned to proof-of-stake, chip production has steadily picked up to keep up with demand, and we are about to see more competition in the market. with Intel's Arc Alchemist desktop graphics card, introducing Team Blue to the current duopoly of AMD and Nvidia.
Intel's offerings are unlikely to match heavyweights like the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT or GeForce RTX 3090 Ti, but it could bring more affordable cards to consumers who don't need as much power. This makes it a great first GPU, especially if you plan on running low-demand games and apps.
Many of the major manufacturers have predicted that the GPU market should see a big upswing by at least 2023, and the current data we see seems to bear this out. If you wait for prices to drop any lower than they are, there's a good chance they will, but it's unlikely we'll see any of the flagship cards drop below MSRP, and cheap GPUs might even be a thing of the past altogether. For now at least, there is hope for those who have been waiting two years to upgrade their system or build their first PC.
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