Global GPU Prices Surge 15% in a Month: What’s Driving the Increase?
Recent data from TechSpot reveals a significant spike in graphics card prices worldwide, with GPU costs climbing 15% in just one month across 10 major markets. When averaged across all models, current GPU prices are now 28% higher than their original launch MSRPs, excluding the RTX 5090. The RTX 5090 was omitted from the analysis due to its status as an outlier and its limited relevance for gaming. While NVIDIA officially lists the RTX 5090 at $1,999, the lowest available price in the US has soared to nearly $5,000—representing a 145% markup domestically and 136% globally.
GeForce and Radeon GPUs: Month-Over-Month Price Trends
The price surge is most pronounced among NVIDIA’s GeForce lineup, which saw an average increase of 19% month over month. AMD’s Radeon GPUs also experienced a rise, though to a lesser extent, with an 11% average increase. These figures are consistent with earlier reports indicating that RTX 50-series cards experienced price jumps of up to 41% in a single month, suggesting a persistent upward trend in the GPU market.
Among the most affected models, the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB now stands as the second-most inflated graphics card, priced at 70% above its $429 MSRP in the US and 53% above MSRP globally. In contrast, the RTX 5060 Ti 8GB version is only 14% above MSRP worldwide, highlighting a notable disparity within the same product line.
AMD Radeon Pricing: More Stable, But Not Immune
While AMD graphics cards have generally been less impacted by the recent price hikes, they are not entirely immune. The RX 9060 XT 16GB has seen a 28% increase globally, while the RX 9070 remains relatively affordable at just 13% above its original MSRP. This relative stability in Radeon pricing may be attributed to AMD’s use of GDDR6 memory, as opposed to the GDDR7 memory found in many NVIDIA cards.
AI Hardware Demand and GDDR7 Supply Constraints
The primary factor behind the escalating GPU prices appears to be a shift in GDDR7 memory supply, which is reportedly being redirected toward AI hardware production. As demand for AI accelerators and related technologies grows, the availability of GDDR7 for gaming GPUs has diminished, putting upward pressure on prices. Since AMD relies on GDDR6 memory, its graphics cards have been somewhat insulated from these supply constraints, though this advantage may be temporary if market dynamics continue to evolve.
As the GPU market continues to respond to shifting supply chains and increased demand from AI sectors, consumers and industry observers alike will be watching closely to see how pricing trends develop in the coming months.
