Most graphics cards still priced way above MSRP, led by Nvidia's RTX 5080 and 5090

midian182

Posts: 10,821   +142
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A hot potato: If you want a new graphics card and hope that prices have finally come down, here's some bad news: they haven't. In fact, several GPUs are selling for over 50% more than their MSRP. The RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 are the worst of the bunch in this respect. Not too surprisingly, 8GB cards are closest to their MSRP.

Gamers Nexus carried out its usual in-depth research into the current state of the graphics card market, looking at 420 listings across Amazon, Newegg, and Best Buy.

Out of all those cards, only 20 of them were in stock and listed at the MSRP: eight RTX 5060, six RX 9060 XT (8GB), four RTX 5060 Ti (8GB), one RTX 5060 Ti (16GB), and one RTX 5070.

Looking at the overall picture, graphics cards are selling at an average of 31.8% more than their MSRP. The model with the biggest increase over its suggested retail price is the RTX 5080. Its $1,569 average is almost 57% higher than its $1,000 MSRP. The RTX 5090 isn't far behind (52.7% higher), followed by Intel's B580 (51.6%), B570 (50.8%), and AMD's 9070 XT (45.9%). It is noted, however, that Intel's results are slightly skewed due to one AIB partner, Gunnir, pricing its models much higher than other vendors.

At the bottom of the list is the RTX 5080 Ti (8GB), which is 12% over MSRP. The RTX 5060 is above it (13.1%) and the RX 9060 XT (8GB) next highest at 14.8% above MSRP.

The 8GB cards' positions come as little surprise given the lack of demand – we slammed these cards in our reviews. It was recently reported that German retailer Mindfactory had sold 16 times as many RTX 5060 Ti 16GB cards as the 8GB version. The RX 9060 XT 16GB, meanwhile, sold 30 times more units than the variant with half its VRAM.

Host Stephen Burke dedicates a section of the video to the RX 9070 XT. It launched with a $599 MSRP, but AMD managed this price point by providing retailers with a $50 rebate – a temporary perk.

AMD's Frank Azor denied this was the case, telling the press that "It is inaccurate that $549/$599 MSRP is launch-only pricing. We expect cards to be available from multiple vendors at $549/$599 (excluding region-specific tariffs and/or taxes) based on the work we have done with our AIB partners, and more are coming. At the same time, the AIBs have different premium configurations at higher price points, and those will also continue."

But three months after launch, the RX 9070 XT has only one of 26 listings priced at MSRP, and it isn't in stock. GN also notes that at launch, Newegg and BestBuy had a combined 27 RX 9070 XT models listed, with six at MSRP. Out of the 21 listings that have remained since then, 71% have had their prices increased, including five of the six that launched at MSRP.

Burke wraps up the video by pointing out that MSRP has all but lost its relevance – today, even entry-level partner cards sell at mark-ups higher than those once reserved for flagship models just a few years ago.

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My microcenter has 5090 in stock but they are $2700 or more.

Thank God I got my 5090FE at $1999, but I really wanted a "Kingpin" - but I'd have to settle for an Astral LC and they wanted $3500 for it at the time ($3719 now)


they have a 4th of July deal on the PNY 5090 for $2500 (marked down from $2700).
 
It's remarkable, really. The ability to find reasons for prices to go up, the constant narrative of scarcity and woe while raking in huge profits.


Oh, so you mean they aren't buying them up for Crypto Mining?

And there's no closed factories due to Covid?

God forbid they do what Apple did and force preorders - they'd eliminate the scalping.
 
My microcenter has 5090 in stock but they are $2700 or more.

Thank God I got my 5090FE at $1999, but I really wanted a "Kingpin" - but I'd have to settle for an Astral LC and they wanted $3500 for it at the time ($3719 now)


they have a 4th of July deal on the PNY 5090 for $2500 (marked down from $2700).
With 5% membership it comes out $2374 for the PNY.
 
With 5% membership it comes out $2374 for the PNY.


Here's how you WIN.

You take out a credit card that offers 0% financing for 12 months - 24 months and offers $500 cash back if you spend $3000 - $4000 within the first 3 months of having the card.

You get $500 cash back, 0% interest for 2 years and you can use the cash back to pay against the balance.

This is how I financed my trip on ANA business class to Bali and Singapore using the Wells Fargo Autograph card and the 5090FE.
 
I just paid $1189AUD for a 9070XT Hellhound which is ~ $784US, but given our price includes 10% GST, if I take that out of the equation, as US prices do not include tax, it is ~ $698US. This is the cheapest Aussie price I've seen since 9070XT launched and while I'm not happy spending that much, I was not going to wait forever to finally upgrade as then I start telling myself might as well wait for UDNA1/RDNA5. I'm sure Black Friday sales might see some better prices, but it is what is is. Just waiting a few months saw the price I paid already $150 less that what it would have been earlier.
 
midian182 said:
8GB models come closest to launch pricing, but nobody wants them
That's not true. My local BestBuy sells out of them every time they come in. They fly off the shelves more than any other model ATM.
 
I noticed it’s the taiwanese brands that are way marked up. They’re used to not having competition in the motherboard market and marking everything way up. US brands like PNY haven’t marked their GPU’s way up to take advantage of customers.
 
It’s also interesting to me how many people want to upgrade 40 series to 50 series. The raster performances didn’t go up nearly as much as a typical generation, but the AI performance went up by more, allowing for more fake frames. I mostly play single player games and have no issue with DLSS frames, but seems like a lot of people complain about it. I’m not sure if they are the same people buying up the new cards or not though. I like the 50 series personally, but I’d you’re not in DLSS and AI then there isn’t much point upgrading.
 
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