The GPU shortage is over, and gamers around the world can breathe a sigh of relief. For those in the market for one of the best graphics cards, we looked closely at graphics card prices and availability to determine where the GPU market is headed and the best time to buy.
If you’re looking for a cheap GPU deal, now is the time to buy. Cards from AMD and Nvidia usually hover around the recommended list price, but some models are actually priced well below that, and the same goes for Intel GPUs.
Here’s the state of affairs for GPU pricing in the first quarter of 2024.
When will graphics card prices drop?
GPU prices have largely returned to normal, and only a select few are selling above the list price. Graphics cards are in stock at retailers, which has cut off scalpers at the knees with inflated prices. The GPU market is in good shape now, with cards on the secondhand market selling for below list price, as they should.
Prices have normalized across most popular retailers, meaning these cards are now up for grabs for less than expected, or — at the very least — they’re available at list price. In the past, you’d have to wait weeks for the prices to drop on a new GPU, but the availability often exceeds demand these days.
Some new GPUs, namely the Nvidia RTX 40-series Super refresh and AMD RX 7600 XT, have also come out recently. This fills the market with viable and affordable graphics cards, and these releases have already improved the prices of older GPUs.
The only current-gen GPU that’s really struggling to stay around list price is the Nvidia RTX 4090. Due to the import restrictions that the U.S. government has imposed on China, these GPUs have started selling out quickly, and you may have a hard time finding one at a reasonable price.
Fortunately, plenty of older graphics cards are in stock, which belong to the RTX 30-series and RDNA 2 lineup. Those GPUs are often budget-friendly, and many make great alternatives to high-end current-gen cards.
Nvidia GeForce Ada Lovelace RTX 40-series
GeForce RTX 4090
Nvidia’s RTX 4090 is the cream of the crop when it comes to GPU power (read our RTX 4090 review to see it in action), and it comes with a price to match. The base price is $1,600, and some third-party models are as much as over $2,300. The RTX 4090 has been getting pricier in the last few months, so if you’re hoping to buy one, you’ll most likely have to pay $2,000 or more, and stock levels may vary.
Soon after launch, the card was mostly sold out across the board, and unfortunately, that may also be the case these days. You can find RTX 4090s at many retailers, but the prices are much higher than the $1,600 recommended price. However, we still recommend that you head directly to retailers instead of buying secondhand — unless you spot a great (and safe) deal on a gently used card.
GeForce RTX 4080 Super
Nvidia’s RTX 4080 Super is a recent addition to the lineup, and it’s a good one. Although performance-wise it’s practically the same as the RTX 4080 (read our review to find out more), it’s $200 cheaper by default thanks to a surprising price cut on Nvidia’s part. Seeing as this is a new release, you may have difficulty finding it in stock right now, but some models are available around the $1,000 list price. However, if you spot overclocked versions of this card at $1,400 to $1,600, we recommend staying far away and waiting for a better deal.
GeForce RTX 4080
Nvidia followed up the RTX 4090 with the RTX 4080, and that GPU is also readily available — but that might not be the case for long. Now that the RTX 4080 Super is out, the RTX 4080 has been discontinued, so it will slowly be phased out. On the upside, you may score a good deal on this GPU, which was previously $1,200 and above. That is not the case, and most 4080s are overpriced.
Although not as impressive as the flagship card (read our RTX 4080 review for more), it’s still a powerful GPU with Nvidia’s latest architecture. It’s a little less worth the money than the RTX 4090, though, but with the 4090 now overpriced, it’s the cheapest way to get an Nvidia GPU for 4K gaming.
GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super
The RTX 4070 Ti Super is the second of three GPUs in the Super refresh, delivering an upgrade over its predecessor. It serves up 16GB of memory instead of 12GB, alongside an increase in CUDA cores. This brings it closer to the RTX 4080, but in our testing, it turned out to be only around 10% faster than the base RTX 4070 Ti.
This GPU came out priced at $800, which is the same as the RTX 4070 Ti, and for the most part, you should be able to find it at that price. However, overclocked models made by Nvidia’s partners may cost up to $870.
GeForce RTX 4070 Ti
Nvidia’s RTX 4070 Ti isn’t a great GPU, as you can read in our RTX 4070 Ti review, and that’s mainly because it’s too expensive. The card was released at $800, and while some third-party retailers sell it for up to $900 or even $1,000, you can find many models near (or at) list price because of the lukewarm reception that the card had received upon hitting the market. The cheapest models actually dip a little below that, reaching around $750. Like the RTX 4080, this GPU is now discontinued, so we expect its price to keep dropping until it disappears from the shelves entirely.
GeForce RTX 4070 Super
The first of the three Super GPUs is certainly the best of all three in terms of value. Like its predecessor, the RTX 4070 Super delivers excellent performance for the money, quickly becoming a staple 1440p GPU with its recommended price of $600. It’s in stock around that price, too, so it’s an easy choice over the base model. It beats the RTX 4070 Super by 11% at 1440p, outpaces AMD’s fan favorite RX 7800 XT by 8%, and provides access to Nvidia’s ultra-handy DLSS 3.
GeForce RTX 4070
Between several GPUs that could easily be referred to as less than stellar, the RTX 4070 shines bright. It’s a reasonable GPU where the numbers finally add up. It’s not too expensive, but it delivers decent performance in 1440p and does an outstanding job of handling 1080p games. If it suits your budget, it’s a decent halfway point in this generation. You can find several models below their initial list price of $550.
Unlike the RTX 4070 Ti and the RTX 4080, this GPU will continue being produced alongside its Super sibling, so expect to find this one at a lower price point. We no longer recommend buying this at the previous $600 MSRP — you’re better off getting the Super GPU.
GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB
Nvidia launched not one but two versions of the RTX 4060 Ti in 2023. The 16GB version is virtually the same as the 8GB model, but it adds an extra $100 to the recommended list price and packs twice as much video memory. However, Nvidia launched this card very quietly and didn’t even make its own Founders Edition either. While it’s mostly available for sale, it’s not as popular as the 8GB version due to the poor performance per dollar. On the upside, some models are actually up to $60 cheaper than the recommended list price of $500.
GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB
While many had high hopes for the RTX 4060 Ti 8GB, its performance is not quite as great as expected, as you can see in our review of it. Due to the limited amount of VRAM and narrow memory bus, the card may struggle against some of the most demanding games already out, let alone the titles still yet to come. However, if you want a midrange card to slot inside your next PC build, the good news is that the RTX 4060 Ti 8GB is available at most retailers at list price or slightly below it, with some models dipping as low as $340.
GeForce RTX 4060
In the previous generations, the xx60 GPU was always a fan favorite. The RTX 4060 may not quite earn that spot, but it’s affordable enough to still climb the ranks over time. We’ve reviewed it and found it to be an average competitor against AMD’s recent RX 7600, but it is a bit faster and unlocks Nvidia’s DLSS 3, so there are still plenty of reasons to pick it up. It launched at $300 and has maintained that price ever since.
Nvidia GeForce Ampere RTX 30-series
GeForce RTX 3090 Ti
Although the RTX 3090 Ti should sell for a decent price now, it doesn’t. You’ll struggle to find any models in stock, and the ones that are available sell for above $1,800, with some reaching a crazy $3,400. Because of that, we’re omitting it from this list. Nvidia likely restricted the number of RTX 3090 Ti models it released as a late addition to the previous generation, so we may never see it back in stock at list price.
Read our RTX 3090 Ti review to see how the card performs.
GeForce RTX 3090
Although the RTX 3090 is much older than the RTX 3090 Ti, it’s still not any cheaper than its initial list price, and many models are actually a good couple of hundred dollars pricier. The card launched at $1,500, and while you can find some models around that ballpark (or less), it’s also mostly out of stock. These days, there is no reason to buy a new RTX 3090 — you’re better off adding an extra $200-$300 and getting the RTX 4090 instead, or dropping down to an RTX 4080 Super, which outperforms it and is cheaper.
GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
The RTX 3080 Ti has seen a shift over the last few months. It launched at $1,200, and it was ridiculously overpriced, but it got better for a while as Nvidia moved on to its newer GPUs. Now, its prices are rising once again as stock levels begin to dwindle for good. You can find new models for around $1,050 to $1,400; at these prices, we recommend getting the RTX 4080 Super instead. Read our RTX 3080 Ti review for benchmarks.
GeForce RTX 3080
The RTX 3080 was a sweet-spot graphics card for high-end gamers when it launched. With a list price of $700 and unparalleled performance — read our RTX 3080 review for more on that — it was the graphics card to buy. You may struggle to find it in stock outside of refurbished models right now, and while those are cheap, they can be risky. You’ll be paying $700 to $1,000 when buying new, so we recommend sticking to the RTX 40-series, such as the RTX 4070 Ti Super.
GeForce RTX 3070 Ti
The RTX 3070 Ti is an updated version of the RTX 3070, packing in more cores, a faster clock speed, and higher memory bandwidth. It launched for only $600, but now, it’s universally pricier due to low stock levels, starting at $700 and going up to $900. Overclocked models aren’t much more expensive, but you might pay up to $100 more. Read our RTX 3070 Ti review to see it in action.
GeForce RTX 3070
Much like the RTX 3080 and RTX 3080 Ti, it’s much harder to find the RTX 3070 compared to its Ti sibling. And you’ll pay about the same price. The RTX 3070 launched at $500, but most models run around $550, saving you only $100 or so compared to the Ti model. At this point, it’s better to just buy an RTX 4070.
GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
The RTX 3060 Ti is still a popular graphics card, which makes sense. It’s among the best 1080p graphics cards you can buy, with enough power for 1440p in some titles. It launched for $400, but you’ll mostly find it closer to $450-$500 these days. Overclocked models are a bit more expensive, running toward $550-$600 for a boosted card tricked out with RGB. If you can find a good deal on this card, it’s not much slower than the RTX 4060 Ti (and even faster in some titles), but it doesn’t have DLSS 3. For that reason, we only recommend picking this one over the RTX 4060 Ti if it’s significantly cheaper and new, not refurbished.
GeForce RTX 3060
The RTX 3060 is an oddball graphics card, launching for $330 shortly after the Ti version. Some models are now cheaper, while better versions remain around the original list price, dipping as low as $250 at times. Some overclocked models sell for over $400, but those are few and far between and not worth it when next-gen options are already up for grabs. For a full breakdown of performance, make sure to read our RTX 3060 review.
GeForce RTX 3050
Nvidia’s RTX 3050 is a solid option for gamers on a budget — read our RTX 3050 review for a full performance breakdown. You may find it at around $230 to $300 these days. Nvidia has also recently launched a 6GB version of this GPU, which is reportedly around 20% slower and can be found for $170 to $190. You might be better off buying the pricier 8GB version or a different model entirely.
Intel Arc Alchemist
Arc A770
Intel’s Arc A770 was a surprise hit (read our Arc A770 and A750 review), mostly due to its price. Intel has two models, one with 8GB of memory and another with 16GB. The 8GB model launched with a $330 price tag, while the 16GB model was priced at $350. Intel doesn’t have as many board partners as AMD and Nvidia, which is why these GPUs are few and far between, but you can still find them in stock for as low as $250 at times, although the ballpark of $300 is more common.
Arc A750
The Arc A750 is similar to the A770. It’s just slightly behind in performance and, consequently, slightly cheaper. The list price is $250 after Intel slashed the price, but you may find Intel’s own reference model for $240. Some of its add-in board (AIB) partners sell their cards for $220 to $230.
Arc A580
Almost a year after the rest of the lineup, Intel quietly launched the Arc A580 — and as the reviewers say, it’s not very impressive. The problem lies not with its performance but rather with its price. It’s behind the Arc A750 in capability, but it’s only around $20 to $30 cheaper. It makes very little sense to buy right now.
Arc A380
Intel’s less-popular A380 is available, and a couple of models are available ranging from $120 to $130. This card is far behind in performance and seemed more like a proof of concept for Intel Arc than a competitive release. It’s still in stock, but don’t expect top-tier gaming performance.
AMD Radeon RDNA 3 RX 7000
Radeon RX 7900 XTX
As you can read in our Radeon RX 7900 XTX and RX 7900 XT review, AMD’s new graphics cards are seriously impressive. The flagship XTX model debuted at $1,000, and you can sometimes find it for a little below that at around $930. Regarding performance, it’s close to Nvidia’s RTX 4080, but read our review to see precise benchmarks.
Radeon RX 7900 XT
AMD’s RX 7900 XT is considerably less impressive than the XTX model, and because of that, you can find it readily available at retailers for below list price. Some third-party cards have even been discounted following a lukewarm reception to the GPU.
Radeon RX 7800 XT
The Radeon RX 7800 XT is a long-anticipated fresh arrival in the RDNA 3 lineup that finally bridges the gap between the high-end GPUs and the entry-level RX 7600 XT. It’s also one of the best GPUs to buy at this price range, as you can read in our review. It launched at a recommended price of $500 and usually hovers around $50 to $520 right now, which makes it a go-to for 1440p gaming.
Radeon RX 7700 XT
While the RX 7700 XT brings more of a generational upgrade than the RX 7800 XT, it also makes much less sense to buy. The cheapest models hover around $440, which is far too close to the RX 7800 XT to make much of an impact, and there are also RDNA 2 options to consider at around the same price. AMD is really its own worst competitor right now, and this is a GPU where it truly shows.
Radeon RX 7600 XT
AMD’s Radeon RX 7600 XT launched in January, but it’s not too exciting a GPU release. It’s essentially the same graphics card as the RX 7600, but it doubles the amount of memory, going up from 8GB to 16GB. Unfortunately, AMD made the same mistake as Nvidia did with the RTX 4060 Ti — it failed to update the memory interface. As a result, this GPU is comparable to its predecessor, but it costs $330. Read our review of the card to learn more about its performance.
Radeon RX 7600
AMD’s RX 7600 is an affordable graphics card with decent performance for 1080p gaming. In our review, we’ve found that it’s slightly slower than Nvidia’s RTX 4060, but it’s also a little bit cheaper. You can usually find it for anywhere between $260 and $300, making it a solid choice for a budget-oriented PC build.
AMD Radeon RDNA 2 RX 6000
Radeon RX 6950 XT
The Radeon RX 6950 XT is an updated version of the RX 6900 XT, bringing clock speed and memory bandwidth improvements (read about those in our RX 6950 XT review). It launched for $1,100, but it’s way, way cheaper now. Seeing as this is a 4K gaming card, it’s still a solid option if you’re building a high-end PC but don’t need a GPU from this current generation. Its stock levels are running low, though, so finding a new model might get trickier as time passes.
Radeon RX 6900 XT
The RX 6900 XT originally launched for $1,000, but you can find new models for around $750 these days. As you can see, that actually makes it a worse deal than the 6950 XT, which is an interesting twist. The RX 6950 XT used to provide worse value before, but now, it’s often the better option unless you can score a decent deal on the RX 6900 XT.
Radeon RX 6800 XT
The RX 6800 XT marks the sweet spot for 4K gaming in AMD’s RDNA 2 lineup, so it remains a popular card. Fortunately, its pricing has dipped well below the initial list price. These days, you can find an RX 6800 XT for around $500, and at that price, it’d be a steal … if not for the RX 7800 XT, which costs pretty much the same.
Radeon RX 6800
The cut-down RX 6800 hasn’t had the same attention as the XT version, but it is around $100 cheaper. It launched for $580, but fortunately, you’ll only need to spend around $450 to get your hands on this card. It is a reasonable alternative to the $520 RX 7800 XT.
Radeon RX 6750 XT
The RX 6750 XT is an updated version of the RX 6700 XT, and just like the other RX XX50-series cards, plenty of them are in stock. Buying it now means great savings compared to when it initially launched at $550, as these days, you’re only spending around $360 to $400.
Radeon RX 6700 XT
The RX 6700 XT launched for $480, but it sells for considerably less now, saving you around $130. We found models around $320, but some overclocked models cost $700. Needless to say, the card is not worth anywhere near that much, but it’s a good deal for $320. Although the RX 6700 XT technically lives alongside the RX 6750 XT, we imagine this model will be phased out over time in favor of the updated version.
Radeon RX 6650 XT
The RX 6650 XT is among the RDNA 2 refresh lineup, and it replaces the RX 6600 XT — though, keep our RX 6600 XT review handy in case you find a card in stock. The card launched for $400, but you’ll now find it as low as $250, making it a competitive option against the current-gen RX 7600.
Radeon RX 6600 XT
AMD’s Radeon RX 6600 XT used to be one of the more popular graphics cards in the lineup, but the competition it faces from its siblings is fierce. While you can find it for around $240, you can also get the RX 6650 XT for almost the same amount, so this GPU doesn’t make a whole lot of sense right now.
Radeon RX 6600
The RX 6600 is a cut-down version of the RX 6600 XT, and it comes in at a cheaper price, going as low as $200. Some cards are in stock for that price, though many sell closer to $250. The problem is inventory, as the RX 6650 XT has pushed many of the models off digital shelves. Make sure to read our RX 6600 review to see how the card stacks up.
Radeon RX 6500 XT
The RX 6500 XT was launched to compete with the RTX 3050 for a slightly lower price of $200. Our RX 6500 XT review shows that it’s one of the worst graphics cards ever released, which explains why you can pick one up for as little as $140. It’s a deal, but you’re not getting much of a graphics card for that price, so really, steer clear unless you have no other option.
Radeon RX 6400
If you’re looking for a true budget graphics card, the RX 6400 is your only modern option outside Intel’s scarcely available Arc A380. It launched with a recommended price of $160, and most cards sell for around that price (give or take $20). Keep in mind, though, that the RX 6400 is less focused on gaming, so you’ll only find options in small-form-factor configurations.
Should I buy a new GPU now or wait?
After a long period of inflated prices, GPUs are finally settling into the new normal. The so-called “new normal” means that they’re as cheap as they’ve been in years. While we’re not back to the pre-pandemic state, we might never go back to that due to the pricing strategy adopted by Nvidia and, to a lesser extent, AMD.
Current-gen cards are available at most retailers, and the stock levels are more than high enough to meet the current demands. Some GPUs that were launched in 2022 and 2023 have already seen some price cuts, and even those that haven’t are up for grabs at the list price.
With the next generation of Nvidia GPUs slated for 2025, there is no reason to wait until then. AMD is said to be coming out with RDNA 4 graphics cards later in 2024, but rumor has it that it’s not going to make any high-end GPUs, so they’re unlikely to outperform current offerings in any big way.
In other words, we don’t recommend waiting. Now is the time to buy a GPU. Last-gen graphics cards are plentiful and cheap (especially AMD models), and current-gen offerings aren’t as overpriced as they were upon launch.
FAQs about GPU prices
Why are GPUs so hard to find?
Fortunately, the days of GPUs being hard to come by are well and truly behind us. These days, minor shortages occur when a new product launches, but we’re out of the woods. It’s hard to say what the future will bring, though, so now is actually a good time to buy a graphics card.
For a bit of a history lesson, in 2021, there was a GPU shortage, which is why GPUs used to be so hard to find. The coronavirus pandemic caused a chip shortage, making it difficult for Nvidia and AMD to produce enough cards to keep up with demand. Demand was at an all-time high in 2021, too, as cryptocurrency miners rushed to pick up graphics cards from shelves.
Throw scalpers into the mix, who capitalized on demand from gamers and cryptocurrency miners, and it’s easy to see why GPUs were so expensive. Simply put, graphics cards were hard to find because the demand was much higher than the supply. Now, with higher stock levels and lower demand, it’s a whole different story.
Are GPUs still out of stock in 2024?
No, GPUs are not still out of stock in 2024. You can find Nvidia RTX 40-series and AMD RX 7000 graphics cards at most retailers and on eBay. Cards are not only in stock now, but they’re also mostly selling for around list price. Last-gen options are plentiful, too, with Nvidia’s RTX 30-series and AMD’s RX 6000 both cheaper than ever outside of some models. Intel’s GPUs, although there are only a few to begin with, can also be picked up at cheap prices.
The only current-gen GPU that suffers from some stock and pricing issues is the RTX 4090. Due to the high demand for AI chips, as well as scalpers buying the card out to export to China, the GPU is now several hundred dollars pricier than it was last year.
When will GPU prices return to normal?
Graphics cards are cheaper now than in 2021, and prices have continued to drop. Although some models are still overpriced, it’s safe to say that GPU prices have returned to normal now.
Prices may rise again near the end of the year, but it’s hard to say for sure right now. High-end cards are in greater danger of being priced high right now due to the AI boom.
Will old GPU prices drop?
Older graphics card prices are dropping with the rest of the market. However, many old GPUs are cheap now, especially some of AMD’s RX 6000 cards. In some cases, Nvidia’s RTX 30-series still maintains high (or insanely high) prices, but other models, like the RTX 3070 Ti, are fairly reasonable.
Still, it’s important to remember that with new GPUs selling at list price, buying a newer card at a similar cost often makes more sense — although the old GPUs are perfectly sufficient for most gamers.
As time goes on, we are also starting to see increasing issues with finding some older GPUs in stock. This is because their production has mostly been halted, so as they get sold out, they never come back. Fortunately, those GPUs already have their counterparts in the current generation.
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