Graphics cards from AMD and Nvidia have leveled off steadily over the past few months, with prices falling further in April, though progress has been noticeably slower for Nvidia GPUs.
According to German retailer 3D Center, GPU prices have fallen by an average of 13%, but looking at the data provided, Nvidia only achieves an improvement of around 6%. Still, prices are steadily falling across the board, with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 30 series sitting around 19% above MSRP, while AMD's Radeon RX 6000 series is now just 12% above MSRP. .
Is it still expensive? Well yes, but compared to the massive inflation we saw just after Ampere and RDNA 2 hit the market in 2020, this is a significant improvement and not beyond the scope of the game. According to additional data from 3D Center, AMD and Nvidia GPUs were 83% and 87%, respectively, above their official retail prices just a few months ago in December 2021.
3D Center notes in its report that the recently released Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti was deliberately omitted from the data because it was so expensive that it could be purchased at its official MSRP from its release date, which would unnecessarily skew the results.
Until now, it has been almost impossible to create a new GPU from Team Red or Team Green during the lifetime of each card, with a combination of chip shortages and competition from crypto miners having inflated almost the entire market.
These results certainly sound like the news we've all been waiting to hear, but they come with a little salt in our wounds. For one, since these prices are based on the German market, they do not necessarily reflect the global market as accurately, so even if prices appear to be falling in other regions of the rest of Europe and the United States, the percentages that we are seeing will not apply.
3D Center points out, however, that it works both ways, as fluctuations between the US dollar and the euro have slowed the fall in graphics card prices in Germany. We're also seeing cards become easier to find on shelves, which should reduce demand and keep prices lower. Who knows, maybe by the time the GeForce RTX 40 and RDNA 3 series launch, the current generation of GPUs could finally drop below their launch prices.
Analysis: It's not all good news
It's not all good news, at least when we look at historical graphics card prices and market fluctuations. Tom's Hardware mentions in its own reports that GPU prices are expected to be 10-20% below their original list price as Nvidia and AMD prepare to announce the next generation of hardware.
Computex is also fast approaching, starting on May 24, so we're running out of time to see the same accessibility to market as in previous years, and if we see similar inflation with the release of cards like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 and AMD RX 7900 XT , nothing is stopping prices from skyrocketing again for the current generation of GPUs.
Truly "cheap" graphics cards are still a long way off, and may even be a thing of the past depending on what you think a budget GPU is, but at least things are looking up. Who knows, maybe soon you'll be able to get your hands on the card of your dreams without having to sell all your prized possessions to finance it.
Intel could also help stabilize the market with the release of its Arc Alchemist desktop graphics cards. Pricing and release date are yet to be confirmed, but with early benchmarks showing promise for gamers targeting high frame rates at 1080p resolution, they could help drive down the cost of GPUs like Nvidia GeForce RTX. 3060 and AMD Radeon 6600XT.
It could be a great first GPU, especially if you plan on running low-demand games and apps, which should take some pressure off the market overall. Only time will tell, and if these last two years have taught us anything, it is to make the most of what is good.
There's no telling if prices will skyrocket even higher in the coming months, but if you've been waiting to buy a new graphics card, now's your chance to do so at a great "within reason" price.
Today's best graphics card deals