In context: The current generation of RTX Amps and RDNA 2 GPUs from Nvidia and AMD is getting old, but it looks like prices may soon reach MSRP levels. After almost two years of high prices and poor availability, it is hardly something to celebrate, but at least the trend is positive for many gamers who have been priced out of the GPU market by scalpers, cryptocurrencies and retailers.
One may be tempted to point fingers at Nvidia and AMD for the chaotic GPU market we have experienced over the past two years, but according to analyst Jon Peddie, it was mostly distributors and resellers who raised prices to insurmountable levels.
This was done under the pretext of supply and demand forces beyond their control, but the supply part has slowly improved over the last many months. And with governments cracking down on mining, rising energy prices and Ethereum’s impending transition to a proof-of-stake consensus, demand has declined significantly.
The latest report from 3DCenter on European GPU prices indicates that they are closer to MSRP.
The publication has mapped the price and availability trends for both AMD and Nvidia graphics cards since the beginning of 2021 (we have the same, but for US prices), and this update continues to paint a picture of gradual improvement in both areas.
See also: TechSpot GPU Price Update: May 2022 – Buy Now or Wait for the Next Generation?
Nvidia RTX 3000 cards are now priced at an average of six percent above the manufacturer’s suggested retail levels, while AMD’s RX 6000 series is closer to just 2 percent above MSRP.
As our readers are no doubt aware, there seems to be a correlation between Ethereum’s profitability and GPU prices, and both have seen slow and steady declines over the last five months.
The detailed picture is a bit more nuanced, with some GPUs like the Radeon RX 6500 XT and RX 6600 XT being found at as much as 19 percent below the MSRP, while others are still grossly overpriced.
Even the high-end RX 6900 XT can be found at 12 percent below Team Red’s suggested retail price, but the same cannot be said of the RX 6800 and RX 6800 XT, which are listed at 22 percent and 35 percent more than their respective MSRPs.
The only Nvidia GPU found slightly below the MSRP is the GeForce RTX 3090. Other advanced models like the RTX 3080, RTX 3080 Ti and mid-range models like the RTX 3070 and RTX 3070 Ti can be found for 5 to 12 percent above the MSRP. The worst choice in terms of value right now seems to be the RTX 3060 Ti, which is selling for 21 percent more than Team Green’s suggested retail price.
Of course, GPU prices vary depending on region and retailer, but the downward trend has been maintained for several months now. As we noted in our latest monthly GPU price report, the dilemma now is that a new generation of graphics cards is ready for release later this year, so buying cards that are now one or two years old – which has been a moving target – – even though it is available on MSRP, it may not be the best choice.
On the bright side, there seems to be more room for price declines for mid-range and high-end graphics cards, and eBay prices for older cards are also falling by double digits every month.
Furthermore, Nvidia has worked to reduce production costs, which should more than offset the increase in wafer prices. Meanwhile, AMD’s updated RX 6×50 XT card can be found on or near MSRP, at least in the United States.
