Gigabyte Radeon RX 6800 series prices are a big oof for gamers compared to AMD's MSRPs: US$250 more for an RX 6800 XT-based AORUS Master variant
Gigabyte has delivered a big oof to gamers hoping to get their hands on a new AMD Radeon RX 6800 Series graphics card. It appears the Taiwanese manufacturer has turned a blind eye to AMD’s Manufacturer Suggested Retail Prices (MSRPs) for the RX 6800 and RX 6800 XT and thrown out some price tags that will certainly annoy many potential buyers. The prices were revealed during the AORUS AMD Radeon MAX-Covered Cooling launch event, and pointed out by VideoCardz. The three Gigabyte board price tags, and the AMD MRSPs, are as follows:
| SKU | AIB price | AMD MSRP | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AORUS Radeon RX 6800 XT Master Type C 16G | US$899 | US$649 | US$250 |
| Gigabyte Radeon RX 6800 XT Gaming OC 16G | US$849 | US$649 | US$200 |
| AORUS Radeon RX 6800 Master 16G | US$719 | US$579 | US$140 |
Although gamers and desktop PC builders would expect to pay more for a customized AIB product anyway, the differences between the prices of the Gigabyte boards and the AMD MSRPs are going to make a lot of shoppers balk at paying up for one. It was recently reported that AMD would cease producing reference design cards, which would certainly put AIB partners in a stronger position in terms of pricing, but Team Red soon did an about face and announced production would continue.
Of course, many users prefer buying AIB boards because of their numerous additions and advantages, such as extended I/O port configuration, overclocking potential, customized cooling solutions, bespoke software management, increased power delivery, etc. However, US$250 is a considerable difference to take into account, and it makes one wonder how much the Gigabyte Radeon RX 6900 XT Gaming OC board will cost. With the AMD MSRP at US$999 for the top-end graphics card, the Gigabyte variant could end up costing around US$1,300.
Source(s)
AORUS (YouTube channel - prices mentioned from 41:25 m in) via VideoCardz
