I’d hold off on buying a graphics card right now, but not because the RTX 5090 is coming
Aug. 22, 2024We deserve better GPU prices.
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It feels like thebest graphics cardoptions have been allergic to discounts for a while. Perhaps that’s a symptom of the long stint of inflated prices we had to deal with a few years ago, which made grabbing a GPU at MSRP near impossible. We’re absolutely in a better place since that fiasco, especially with the crypto mining craze done and dusted, but I can’t help but feel card makers could do more when it comes to deals.
Just to clarify, I’m not saying graphics card deals are non-existent, and I’ve managed to spot a few decent discounts this year alone. However, I still don’t feel like enough price cuts are happening as we approach the end of the current generation. Traditionally, GPUs tend to get a bit more affordable when newbies are on the cards, but despite constant rumors relating to theNvidia GeForce RTX 5090and its kin, I’ve yet to see any savings that feel appropriate.
MSRP Problems
Out of all the current-gen graphics cards out there, theRTX 4090exemplifies the whole issues with GPU deals right now. If you head to Amazon, you’ll see plenty of price cuts on the enthusiast-grade card, but not a single offer brings it down belowNvidia’s MSRP. The retailer admittedly only has “custom” models by vendors that boast extra features for an elevated price tag, but a slight factor overclock didn’t use to mean a price tag a few hundred dollars higher.
On theAMDside of things, discounts seem to be a little more common, and the red team’s flagshipRX 7900 XTXdid manage to drop to a remarkable $799 just last month. That’s absolutely the sort of deal I want to see on these top-tier GPUs at this stage, and I genuinely don’t feel like it’s a big ask two years into a generation. Yet, plenty of vendors are still asking for over $1,000 for this same GPU, which makes it feel like only some AIB partners like XFX care about facilitating offers.
Yes, I hear you – deals on premium GPUs don’t matter if you’ve got a smaller budget. For what it’s worth, you are more likely to find discounts on entry-level and mid-range graphics cards than anything near the top end. Are theygooddeals? Well, occasionally, but we’re still seeing prices hovering around MSRP in the guise of some sort of price cut.
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The second, which might also be obvious, is to wait until next-gen GPUs rear their head. I’m laughing at that piece of advice, as it didn’t really work out with the RTX 30-series since all the prices remained just as high, but I believe it’s a slightly different situation this time. Before RTX 4000 models were released, prices were all well beyond MSRP, and it took new versions to arrive to get things even remotely near their original asking price. Simply put, current cards have much less of a fall to make, meaning companies are theoretically losing less by cutting prices.
Of course, all of this depends on the MSRP of new cards. If the RTX 5090 rolls up with a much higher price tag than its 4090 predecessor, manufacturers may be less compelled to cut prices. After all, the Lovelace card will look like a bargain without even trying if the new flagship costs a chunk more, which means nothing will really happen to prices come the new generation.
The above all sounds pretty morbid from a GPU deal standpoint, and I’m aware that things can change quickly. From where I’m standing, the whole thing feels like a “wait and see” scenario, especially when it comes to flagship 4K GPUs. I’ll naturally be checking regularly for any real discounts and sharing them with you, but if you’ve got a card that can run the latest games right now without too many caveats, I’d put the brakes on any potential upgrades.
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I’ve been messing around with PCs, video game consoles, and tech since before I could speak. Don’t get me wrong, I kickstarted my relationship with technology by jamming a Hot Wheels double-decker bus into my parent’s VCR, but we all have to start somewhere. I even somehow managed to become a walking, talking buyer’s guide at my teenage supermarket job, which helped me accept my career fate. So, rather than try to realise my musician dreams, or see out my University degree, I started running my own retro pop culture site and writing about video games and tech for the likes of TechRadar, The Daily Star, and the BBC before eventually ending up with a job covering graphics card shenanigans at PCGamesN. Now, I’m your friendly neighbourhood Hardware Editor at GamesRadar, and it’s my job to make sure you can kick butt in all your favourite games using the best gaming hardware, whether you’re a sucker for handhelds like the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch or a hardcore gaming PC enthusiast.
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