The AI boom is in full swing and has had a major impact on the price of PC hardware, especially for those seeking the best gaming PCs. Unfortunately, new rumors suggest the situation won’t get any better, and we’re again hearing that GPU prices could be hiked soon.
In this case it’s AMD graphics cards that could be affected as reported by VideoCardz, and Radeon GPUs from board-making partners could increase in price by around $20 for 8GB and $40 for 16GB models, we’re told. This may happen by the end of the year, according to speculation from the Board Channels in China.
It’s worth noting that there’s no indication whether these purported price increases will be exclusive to current-gen RDNA 4 GPUs, or will also apply to older Radeon cards. However, given the worsening supply pressures on video RAM (and indeed all memory), it’s safe to assume this may be widespread across all Radeon GPUs.
We’ve already seen prices for RAM modules reach unprecedented levels in recent months, which actively threatens GPUs pricing, too.
Other rumors suggest that both Nvidia and AMD are contemplating axing low to mid-range graphics cards due to VRAM costs, and it doesn’t feel like it’s that far-fetched to suggest we could be facing a major GPU crisis.
The PC market has been constantly shifting over the last year, with prices and demand fluctuating, ultimately deterring many consumers from making purchases.
Multiple issues with GPUs, including stock shortages and inflated prices above MSRP, have been making life miserable for PC gamers looking for a new graphics card.
With the holidays now here, it’s a good time to keep an eye on any deals for GPUs, because this month may very well be the last chance of attaining one at a reasonable price point.
Analysis: GPU deals should be your priority post Black Friday and Cyber Monday
If you were fortunate enough, you may have already secured a deal for an Nvidia, AMD, or Intel GPU during Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Both sales have now officially come to an end, which leaves holiday discounts as your best bet if you’re still on the hunt for a new GPU.
We’re now seeing the price of some system RAM kits exceed the cost of an entry-level gaming PC or current-gen PS5 or Xbox Series X | S consoles. The Corsair Vengeance 64GB at $906.99 on Best Buy is a prime example, which has no business costing as much as it does currently.
GPUs are already expensive enough as it is, so we really don’t need price hikes for them.
Even though these are just rumors, there are enough of them that they raise worrying prospects for GPU pricing – and there’s no doubting VRAM is getting more expensive.
So now, in all probability, is not the time to weigh options, but rather the time to act if you spot a GPU (or pre-built gaming PC) at a reasonable price – because the market could change very quickly in the near future. Just look at the intensity of those steep RAM price hikes that’ve been happening since September.
The best graphics cards for all budgets
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