Why GPU Pricing Is About to Drop Even Further

[Tanyac]

This is good news but I'm fairly sure the headline everyone is waiting for is "Why RAM pricing is set to plummet".

Even better... Why RAM prices have plummeted

I bought a 32GB F4-3200C16Q-32GTZB for $249. That same kit is now upwards of $800 depending on where you buy it. In comparison.. For $249 I can now get 16GB @ 2400mhz. Half the memory at 30% less performance...

But I don't think you are going to see RAM price drops until late 2019 possibly 2020.

Here in Australia, I'd be surprised if prices ever decrease more than 10% of what they currently are.

 

[emeraldsmines1990]

Don't buy till retail drops to MSRP or less! Let gamers dictate the price for once! We have to teach Nvidia a lesson!

It won't.

Most of the marking-up happens at the retailers' end. Nvidia doesn't have control over retail prices, all it does is supply the GPU chips to AIB partner on contract pricing. Nvidia doesn't receive an extra penny from third-party boards retailing at twice Nvidia's MSRP, the only extra cash it gets is from bumping prices on its own Founders Edition boards.

Actually Nvidia can control it. by selling them direct . the same they sell the Titans Direct. not a big deal for them.

 

[emeraldsmines1990]

Guys I find it "Funny" that the prices are lower now just a month or two before the new GEN is coming.

I am preordering the new GEN .. I will not wait one day I am sure the Prices will go up after one week.

 

[chrisbryant]

As more GPU vendors look at viable product specifically targeted to cryptominers, pricing on GPU will likely come down. Some folks are coming up with creative alternatives to snatching up new GPU models, too, including subscriptions to large-scale farms and even sharing space on smaller communal farms. I'm seeing more and more rigs made up of dozens to hundreds of older used GPUs in lieu of snatching up the new models. The problem, of course, is the power efficiency of the newer models isn't there in the older/cheaper ones. So, while this decline is nice, vendors may have to make good on their talk of creating cryptomining hardware specifically for the community or we may see prices rise again.

By the way, crypto isn't the only game in town in terms of making $$ on GPU cycles so I wouldn't get too comfortable (this particular example excludes AMD and Windows for now, but the model looks viable for future ventures):

Rent out GPUs to AI researchers and make ~2x more than mining cryptocurrencies:
https://www.reddit.com/r/gpumining/comments/86ofw2/_/
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16663689

 

[InvalidError]

So, while this decline is nice, vendors may have to make good on their talk of creating cryptomining hardware specifically for the community or we may see prices rise again.

If there is a new wave of crypto demand, prices will rise regardless: GPUs for gaming and GPGPU come out of the same monthly wafer allocations and still use the same DRAM. If AIB vendors can get bigger margins on crypto, they'll place bigger orders for the crypto chips and allocate a larger chunk of the DRAM they can get their hands on on mining boards, which means less supply of GPU boards and higher retail prices due to reduced availability.

AMD and Nvidia are in business to earn as much return on their R&D investments as possible, which means they cannot cripple their products for the sake of pleasing people who want cheaper gaming cards. The only way prices on mainstream GPUs are going to come down and stay down is if the crypto bubble pops for good.

 

[chrisbryant]

The only way prices on mainstream GPUs are going to come down and stay down is if the crypto bubble pops for good.

I hope that's not true because I believe mining in general is a model worth continuing, whether it is cryptocurrency or some other future digital asset. In fact, I strongly support distributed computing science as a solution for many current problems. However, I feel your point and propose there might be a solution other than the big guns selling overpriced hardware.

A really poor performing mining infrastructure right now is mobile-only. People are seeing about $2 a year on average, from some of the articles I've been following. But the right app with the right distributed computing algorithm could improve on that if people were willing to slice the pie differently. It's still super young, but I'd keep my eye on that and other alternatives in the hope the CPU/GPU markets can breathe again.

 

[1_rick]

I can't get excited about 2 year old video cards almost dropping to their original MSRP. I won't be buying for quite a while - probably not this year.

I can't get excited about 2 year old video cards almost dropping to their original MSRP. I won't be buying for quite a while - probably not this year.

That's cool, especially if you have a good enough card already.

On the other hand, I took the opportunity last month to replace my aging 650 ti boost--which also had a weird flaw where about 1/3 of the time, it crash my computer when waking up--with a 1050, and got a nice upgrade. (I got it on the cusp of the price drops, so I paid too much for it, but I didn't know then if prices were going to drop more, and got tired of waiting.

 

[1_rick]

Now, what nVidia could do is launch some sort of gaming campaign where purchases are limited to one per customer.

Micro Center actually did this. When they had GPUs in stock, you'd see signs like "Price: 1-2, $699; 3 or more, $10,000") in front of the 1080s.

 

[stdragon]

Now, what nVidia could do is launch some sort of gaming campaign where purchases are limited to one per customer.

Micro Center actually did this. When they had GPUs in stock, you'd see signs like "Price: 1-2, $699; 3 or more, $10,000") in front of the 1080s.

You just reminded me with one more reason as to why I like Micro Center.

 

[mac_angel]

not sure if it's just Canada, or what, but next gen GPUs don't have any affect on previous gen prices. Sounds stupid, but when the 1080s came out, the 980s were still the same price, sometimes more.
I've also said this in the past. NVidia is really screwing up HUGE (and I know this will piss off a lot of others, and I have no interest in conflicting opinions, I'm just adding my 2cents and forgetting it. Too many arguments online). With the 'abundance' of the 10 series GPUs, and NVidia having to get rid of the stock, they should start pushing SLI. Most AAA games up to 3 years old and newer, still can't play in 4k at maxed settings on an SLI 1080ti rig, let alone a single card. And with 4k becoming more and more popular, and NVidia even coming out with their own 65" 4k G-sync displays, it makes a lot more sense to try and push SLI. Even to those that don't buy SLI, there are still some that do, and that's still extra sales. Even with games that don't 'officially' support SLI, there are easy work arounds with NVidia Profile Inspector that works on any game I've tried. And, again, wouldn't hurt NVidia to turn to the game developers that don't have proper support and give them help with it. It all goes back to being able to increase sales.

 

[J_E_D_70]

People shouldn't buy any 10-series cards. Its nonsense. These cards were released in 2016, with the exception of the 1080 ti, which came out the following year. You have to understand that while the cards stay at relatively the same performance level, the software (games) increases in demand. If you purchase a 1080, you can MAYBE run the most demanding games from this year at 1440p at medium / low detail. With the exception of a few less demanding games, The 1070 / 1080 are now 1080p Ultra detail cards! Don't be fooled into believing they are high end. The 1080ti is the only card worth purchasing once its price comes down. Vega's are so power hungry with lackluster performance there is no reason to even contemplate purchasing one. There are no cards that can run the newest 2018 titles at 4k @ 60 fps. Vote with your wallet.

That... is a steaming pile of baloney. 1070 averages >60fps @1440p on Far Cry 5/high, Vermintide/extreme, PoE2/ultra, The Crew 2/high. So... 1080 even more. There are a couple of titles from 2018 that would have to go to medium at 1440p but your statement is just silly.

 

[YoAndy]

About time to upgrade my GPU

 

[methorpe]

dang it! I had a 1080ti crap out after 6 months and while it is being repaired I bought a new one. Why couldn't it have gone 8 months?

 

[alansavage38]

Well from looking at the prices of used cards on several market places the prices are still climbing, even gtx 6 series are selling for £100 in some cases, the 770/80's are hitting the above the £100 mark.

 

[urbanman2004]

I'm just ready for NVIDIA to release the 1180 so I can build a new system

 

[g-unit1111]

I just saw an EVGA 1080 for $450. If I hadn't just bought a Surface I would have totally gone for it.

 

[stdragon]

BitCoin going up. I'm guessing they're chomping at the bit (pun intended) for the 11 series once released.

 

[samurai.jade80]

Still waiting for a price drop as I slowly turn to skin and bones.

 

[alansavage38]

prices are going up still in the used cards market..cannot believe I am seeing the 5 series starting to command £50, 7's £100, 9's £200 ??

 

[YoAndy]

I'm just ready for NVIDIA to release the 1180 so I can build a new system

You mean 2080