Graphics card prices are falling: be careful on the used market
Weak Cryptocurrencies and more
Graphics cards are becoming more affordable. The used market is “benefiting” from weakness in the crypto market. Appropriate caution is called for there offers.
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After almost a year and a half, the high season for graphics card prices is history for now. Exactly that has now been repeated, just like in 2018, when a boom and subsequent fall in the cryptocurrency market caused scarce GPUs and high acquisition costs. In the latest price overview from 3dcenter.org from May 2022, there were already indications that new goods would continue to relax at the RRP level. Current estimates of Bloomberg according to graphics card prices on the used market have fallen by 50 percent in recent months.
The reason for the development of graphics card prices is, in addition to pandemic shortages and the associated logistics problems, also the cryptocurrency market. In the Ethereum network, which is expected to remain relevant for GPUs until late summer, graphics cards are used to verify new blocks in the blockchain. This is necessary to ensure the security and stability of the network. The use of a graphics card then leads to a more or less large financial reward for the operator, depending on the effort involved. As in 2017, graphics cards have been bought since the end of 2020, which drove up prices.
The price of an Ethereum unit (Ether) has fallen by more than two-thirds in price since May to currently just over $1,000. In November 2021, it was around $4,800. The majority of alternative cryptocurrencies have also crashed since then, especially Bitcoin. This makes mining no longer profitable for many people and so more and more used graphics cards can be found on marketplaces such as Ebay, Amazon Marketplace and more. However, prospective buyers should be careful. There is no guarantee that a used card has been treated with care and that it will function without problems after its continuous use.
Be careful with used graphics cards
If the operators were more professional and, above all, more economically adept, they probably operated graphics cards more gently, cooled them sufficiently and thus made power consumption more efficient. However, if electricity costs were negligible, for example, GPUs and memory chips could also have been operated at full power. Then cooler bearings could no longer run smoothly or memory components could be damaged. If hygiene was not a top priority, a lot of dust and dirt can spread to the cards in continuous operation and reduce their service life. Mining was also practiced in the amateur and hobby sector, also under probably the most varied of conditions.
In any case, you should be careful when buying a used card – especially from private sellers and by post if you cannot test a card personally. If you get a damaged graphics card, there is usually no guarantee or warranty. If you absolutely need a new graphics card, you should check it carefully before you buy it, load it with GPU benchmarks and read out the data with the right tools. Watch out for image errors and drops in performance.
Of course, you drive more safely with new goods. However, you have to decide for yourself how painful that is at the current RRP amounts if a new generation is due in a few months. For the moment, Bloomberg is not assuming that the trend will turn around again by then and graphics cards will become scarce and expensive again. Demand will decrease.
Are GPUs getting more expensive again?
Like other manufacturers, Nvidia has already ordered less production capacity. In Q3 2022, Ethereum is also expected to no longer rely on GPU performance, but to switch to a different method (proof-of-stake). Whether another cryptocurrency will take the place for GPU owners on a large scale remains to be seen. Should factors of the pandemic develop more favorably towards autumn and winter, Bloomberg’s assumption could therefore come true.
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Reference-www.pc-magazin.de
