Graphics cards for desktop PCs today are still not normal, even more crazy. The cause is still a crypto miner?
According to data compiled by 3DCenter, Nvidia graphics card prices in Germany are currently 72% more expensive than the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP). While the AMD graphics card is even worse, because the price is 83% higher than the MSRP.
Compared to prices in September, the increase in the price of AMD graphics cards is also higher than Nvidia. That is up from 9% from 74%, while Nvidia is 'only' up 2% from 70%.
This collection of prices is based on specific models. For example, for AMD, the graphics cards that are monitored are only from the Radeon RX 6000 series, namely 6700 XT, 6800, 6800 XT, and 6900 XT.
As for Nvidia, the prices monitored for the RTX 30 series are 3060, 3060 Ti, 3070, 3080, and 3090.
But behind the increasingly crazy price, at least in Germany, the availability of graphics cards has improved compared to the previous three months.
So, what causes the price of graphics cards to continue to rise? The cause is thought to be the rising exchange rates of bitcoin and ethereum. As a result, the miners get additional income that allows them to buy additional graphics cards.
Although Nvidia is now limiting its graphics cards to be used for mining, namely for graphics cards with the LHR (low hash rate) label, it is reported that there is already software that can bypass these restrictions. Meanwhile, AMD, which did not implement similar measures, dismissed accusations that they prioritized selling graphics cards for crypto miners.
Another factor, of course, is the global chip scarcity that is still happening today. Also the scarcity of certain raw materials which also has an impact on increasing production costs.
