Has the crypto crash had any effect on GPU availability?
pcgamer.comA sea of red in the cryptocurrency markets might not make for pleasant reading for some, but for gamers, it could be great news. There are early signs that graphics card prices are falling. It's a stretch to say that a couple of post holiday dips constitutes a trend, but any downward moves are something we'll happily take in these troubled times. However, falling prices aren't really relevant if shelves are still bare. So, have price drops had any effect on GPU availability at all?
The rewards given for Ethereum mining are the reason why there's massive GPU demand. But those rewards are worth less given that Eth has fallen by roughly 50% from its November highs. Crypto prices are volatile but a 50% drop for the number two crypto in under three months is drastic.
The inference is that less profitability means fewer miners will invest in new GPU purchases. This is because it takes longer to recoup the cost of a new GPU. Lower demand should translate to more cards on shelves. That's the theory anyway. Is it bearing out? Are there more GPUs in stock?
If we look at cards sold directly by Newegg USA, the answer is a resounding no. Newegg lists around 140 RTX 30 series cards, but if we narrow the search to models that are in stock, we get a whopping two. These two cards are a single 3090 and a single 3080 Ti. They aren’t exactly bargains either at $2800 and $2030.
On the AMD side of the aisle, things are better. Newegg lists 90 RX 6000 cards. If we narrow the search to those in stock only, we get 49 cards. The card with the most models in stock is the RX 6900 XT, while the model with the fewest is the RX 6800.
If we switch over to BestBuy, the situation is similar. It lists around 100 RTX 30 series cards. But if we count the
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