What's the deal with GPUs?

[cummytummies]

I get it, it's a stale meme.

But for real, why is every GPU out of stock at the computer store? For 2, 3 years now? It has never been like this. Is it crypto? Is it some rare earth metal shortage I don't know about? There's gotta be a reason. You'd think companies like money.

I upgraded less than a year ago because my old 970 literally died, and I thought I paid a huge markup. Well, looking now the card I bought is 300 bucks more than what I got it for (and I had to fight for it, the store didn't want to sell any outside pre-built packages). What the fuck is going on?

 

[MrTroll]

It's not just demand from crypto, though it's not like that is helping. It's a global semiconductor shortage, and it's affecting literally everything electronic. Hence why you can't get a PS5 anywhere either, or why cars are insanely expensive.

 

[cummytummies]

It's a global semiconductor shortage, and it's affecting literally everything electronic.

That's along the lines I was imagining. Is there a reason for this? Does it have to do with U.S.-China trade war? Why this sudden shortage? Simply a lack of African slaves in the salt mines to keep up with the growing global middle class?

 

[MrTroll]

https://www.popsci.com/technology/global-chip-shortage/

Production and shipping bottlenecks caused by Covid seem to be the core issue.

 

[Epic Fail Man]

next step in evolution is wood-tech. Brace yourselves for the wood age.

 

[⠠⠠⠅⠑⠋⠋⠁⠇⠎ ⠠⠠⠊⠎ ⠠⠠⠁ ⠠⠠⠋⠁⠛]

That's along the lines I was imagining. Is there a reason for this? Does it have to do with U.S.-China trade war? Why this sudden shortage? Simply a lack of African slaves in the salt mines to keep up with the growing global middle class?

The US has blackmailed producers of chip fabrication machinery into not selling such equipment to the government of China.

Because the rebellious province of Taiwan is run by clowns who can't deal with a simple public health problem, their incompetence is being inflicted on the world. This will end when China bypasses the US siege or liberates Taiwan province.

 

[CryoRevival #SJ-112]

Basically:

• chips are used in tonnes of things other than PCs (Cars, Fridges, etc).
• 2020 processor demand projections by the chip manufacturers were significantly off and production capacity was insufficient.
• 2020 processor demand projections for things requiring chips down the supply change (Auto + Tech manufacturers) were way off because they thought people would stop buying shit (Which it didn't).
• Manufacturing capacity expansion will take several years to catch up with demand.
• International logistics is in the absolute toilet at the moment (not a primary cause but it's slowing down capacity expansion)
• Demand continues exploding due to work from home, video conferencing, cloud servers, digitising everything, etc.

Just buy a miner GPU and if you can, demand a massive discount.

Also, during this transition to cloud services, if you ever wanted a full rack server/server cabinet, now is the time to pick one up on the cheap.

 

[Colloid]

The market's suffering from the perfect storm to jack up the price.

Global supply shortage on certain parts (which is also tanking other markets as was already said here), gaming becoming more popular due to the pandemic, crypto becoming more profitable and popular, logistics going to hell, scalpers at an all-time high, tariffs, etc.

Take your pick on what to get pissed at, they're all relevant here.

 

[Synthwave Obsessed]

Even if you really want a GPU, I would avoid used. There are people taking advantage of the lack of GPUs and selling cards double their MSRP, which is not how technology ages unless it's something old and unique. You might find a good deal here and there, but meh. Too much of a gamble for a GPU that was probably used and abused. Let alone if it's a GPU that's combustible.

Right now, the best way to get a GPU is to just hit up physical stores. If you have a Micro Center close to you or some other store that sells hardware on site, then you should be able to get one. Micro Center is really great because they usually only sell their stuff in-store. It's a lot harder to scalp when you have to actually roll your ass into the store and when restocks aren't announced. Oh, and the employees might decide to restock the shelves at 3PM or 9AM.

Shopping at Micro Center is how I got 2 3070s at MSRP and how others around my friend circle have, too. I didn't even go in looking for them. Saw them on the shelf. Employee had literally just rolled the cart away to the storage room. My spouse and I went in for new drives and came out spending $1500 on GPUs. Couldn't use the same credit card and they requested an ID. This was a few months after launch and my Micro Center has had them on the shelves for longer and longer since. Last I heard, they were there a few days this time instead of 10 minutes. Your mileage may vary, but it's slowly getting better. It helps a lot that China told crypto miners to fuck off.

 

[cummytummies]

Right now, the best way to get a GPU is to just hit up physical stores. If you have a Micro Center close to you or some other store that sells hardware on site, then you should be able to get one.

Like I said, I literally had to beg for one. They had a pile of 3070s behind the counter, but told me they weren't selling any. I argued with them, and eventually lined up 200 euros ABOVE MSRP on the counter in cash before they gave me a card. And I think it's because it was a small store and I was making a scene and making them uncomfortable, that's the only reason I got it.

And what I paid, it's now peanuts compared to what they're selling for.

 

[Synthwave Obsessed]

Like I said, I literally had to beg for one. They had a pile of 3070s behind the counter, but told me they weren't selling any. I argued with them, and eventually lined up 200 euros ABOVE MSRP on the counter in cash before they gave me a card. And I think it's because it was a small store and I was making a scene and making them uncomfortable, that's the only reason I got it.

And what I paid, it's now peanuts compared to what they're selling for.

I don't understand where that 200 euros went unless you were buying from a small store ran by John and Bob and they didn't need to respect MSRP for some reason. Even then, I don't think they can do that if they have a direct connection with Nvidia/AMD. I could see these two companies being a little bit upset if one of their official vendors did this. Look at how MSI had hell fire rained on them for trying to rip people off.

 

[cummytummies]

I don't understand where that 200 euros went unless you were buying from a small store ran by John and Bob and they didn't need to respect MSRP for some reason. Even then, I don't think they can do that if they have a direct connection with Nvidia/AMD.

It was literally this. A store the size of a 1-berdoom apartment. I paid 200 euros more than the "listed price" of any other store, but all those other stores were "out of stock". I think they gave it to me to shut me up.

 

[Kosher Dill]

Right now, the best way to get a GPU is to just hit up physical stores. If you have a Micro Center close to you or some other store that sells hardware on site, then you should be able to get one.

Yeah, Nvidias are still hard to get but if you have a physical store you can pretty much walk in and buy an AMD card for MSRP, I've found.

 

[Fapcop]

People who suddenly have a reason to upgrade after five years also adds to the bottleneck. As does Apple of course. Only so many fabs TSMC can run and the demand trickles down to other nodes/manufacturers.