[Hardware] GPU stock levels are now so good today's brutal pricing cannot last

[THē-GHōST]

 

For the past two years I've been scouring the web for any glimmer of hope that graphics card pricing may be coming back down to Earth—an ongoing GPU shortage has left us scrabbling for stock, resulting in high prices and high costs for entry into the wonderful world of PC gaming. Largely to no avail, of course. Today, however, I can be far more positive about my findings. Look to major retailers in the UK, EU, and the US and you'll find something strange when you search their virtual shelves for the rare graphics card. Not only are there GPUs in stock, but there is a wide availability of many models and versions to suit multiple budgets. Scroll through Best Buy, Overclockers, or MindFactory and you'll be pleasantly greeted by listing after listing touting "in stock", "available to buy", or "add to basket". However, only a few, if any, are for graphics cards at or close to MSRP. The only GPU that's regularly spotted near or at MSRP is AMD's RX 6500 XT, one of the more recent arrivals to the RX 6000-series lineup. It's not a card we're altogether fond of, in all honesty, but it is a modern GPU that resembles anything close to affordable. Beyond that, website 3DCenter has been keeping an eye on graphics card pricing over the past year, and its latest report from Germany shows both AMD and Nvidia graphics cards with price tags averaging around 25% over MSRP. That's the lowest premium on graphics cards noted in the site's report for over a year, and no doubt improving supply has put an end to the frenzied demand that saw graphics cards going for double, or triple, their original value.But how long can any inflation of graphics card prices last if stock continues to improve? I'd guess not long, though it's not going to be as simple as returning to 'business as usual' and offering cards at MSRP at a moment's notice. Business as usual for two years hasn't been anything close to MSRP, and that has all sorts of implications all the way up the supply chain. With hundreds of graphics cards listed as in stock across multiple major retailers in Western Europe and North America, there is undoubtedly a competitive advantage to the retailers that can drop prices further than others. Though this is a double-edged sword for most: manufacturers have faced increased prices for key components, and that has been passed onward down the retail chain. Most often, it's the customers who end up footing the bill, but if demand eases off so totally, and supply improves, it may have to be retailers that take the brunt of lowering price tags.