Nvidia and AMD graphics cards are now more affordable than ever thanks to the crypto market crash

Now that the next-generation Nvidia and AMD graphics cards are mere weeks away from launch, OEMs and board partners are looking to dump their existing RTX 3000 and Radeon RX 6000 series stock. That has resulted in a significant price drop, with some models finally being sold at MSRP. Some of the entry-level models such as the Radeon RX 6500 XT are even selling for below the launch price. Tom's Hardware took a close look at the graphics market in the United States and found that many high-end SKUs are now remarkably cheaper than earlier.

On Newegg, top-of-the-line offerings such as the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 Ti saw a 5% reduction in price, while the AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT's cost remains unchanged. The price reduction is steeper on eBay, with the former getting a 9% cut and the latter a whopping 21%. Then again, these are expensive cards that might not be accessible to many budget-conscious builders. Mid-range models such as the GeForce RTX 3070 and GeForce RTX 3060 aren't still quite available at MSRP, although the figure is now closer than ever. On the other hand, one can easily find a Radeon RX 6700 XT and Radeon RX 6650 XT at MSRP on both Newegg and eBay.

The steep decline in graphics card prices is suggestive of further drops, as cryptocurrency miners will join AIBs to dump their stock of hardware. Ethereum's drop in price and eventual transition to a proof-of-stake model disincentivizes mining, and the only recourse miners have is to sell any remaining hardware to cut their losses. While the Tom's Hardware report focuses exclusively on the United States, one can expect to see a similar dip in prices across the globe.

Buy the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 on Newegg