Graphics cards are about to get a lot more expensive, Asus warns

Since the launch last fall of Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 30 and AMD’s Radeon RX 6000 graphics cards, overwhelming demand and tight supply, exacerbated by a cryptocurrency boom, have driven prices for all graphics cards to go crazy. Get ready: it looks like the situation is about to get worse.

In the Asus DIY PC Facebook Group, Asus’ technical marketing manager Juan Jose Guerrero III warned that the prices of the company’s components would rise in the new year.

“We have an announcement regarding the MSRP price changes that will take effect in early 2021 for our award-winning series of graphics cards and motherboards,” Guerrero wrote, while warning that the “additional models” could also benefit from price increases. . “Our new MSRP reflects the increased cost of components. operating costs, logistics activities and maintenance of import tariffs. We have worked closely with our supply and logistics partners to minimize price increases. ASUS greatly appreciates your continued activity and support as we navigate this period of unprecedented market change. “

Asus

Yikes. It’s not a small bump either. WCCFTech found that the liquid-cooled ROG Strix Radeon RX 6800 XT LC was selling for $ 1,080 at Newegg, against an introductory price of $ 900. The Asus TUF Radeon RX 6800 XT launched for $ 810, but now sells for $ 970 at Newegg.

These increases are also not Newegg supplements. Videocardz found a wide range of GeForce RTX 30 series graphics cards now listed at much higher prices on Asus’ own website. The Asus ROG Strix RTX 3080 launched at $ 850, for example (and is still listed at that price on Best Buy’s website), but is now listed at $ 930 on Asus’ website, as well as on B&H Photo and Newegg. Other GPUs see similar tags. The Asus TUF RTX 3060 Ti we reviewed (and liked) at $ 460 now costs $ 530 from Newegg, making it more expensive than the $ 500 GeForce RTX 3070 Founders Edition.

Asus

The price comparison between the TUF RTX 3060 Ti and Nvidia’s RTX 3070 Founders edition may prove academic. Asus is one of the biggest makers of PC components, with fingers in virtually any DIY. If prices go up due to international shipping logistics and pricing issues, don’t be surprised to see the same thing from other suppliers soon. We have heard from many sources of hardware vendors and systems integrators about the exorbitant cost of doing business today. If you thought 2020 was tough, 2021 looks even darker for PC gamers keen to upgrade their platforms to Cyberpunk 2077. Fingers crossed, this madness sets in as soon as possible.