The Best Time to Upgrade Your Graphics Card Is Right Now

The prices on the hardware have dropped so low that it seems like something isn't right.

A year ago, if you wanted to switch from an older graphics card to a newer one, you had to pay a huge amount of money on eBay or get lucky.

The tide is turning As anticipation builds for the next generation of graphics cards and board makers try to clear inventory, and as demand from cryptocurrencies has softened, supply and prices have remained stable. We haven't seen retailers and manufacturers offer discounts on graphics cards in a while.

Many people, like those who need the latest iPhone when it's released, will prefer to wait for the best cards. This may be the best time to buy a game for casual players because there is still inventory and prices are low.

Why have prices dropped?

Jon Peddie, a veteran researcher who closely follows the graphics industry, predicted back in April that a massive price drop could come soon.

It looks like that has played out. The supply and demand cycles of the graphics industry players are returning to normal.

There were a lot of factors that contributed to the disappearance of graphics cards from retail channels and the high prices on secondary markets.

It wasn't supply chain issues or Covid itself that caused the shortage, according to Peddie. The graphics industry works on three- to five-year cycles so even big disruptions don't take long-term planning.

There was a rise in demand for graphics cards as old and new players tried to upgrade their systems to play newer games during the Pandemic.

There is more inventory in retail channels and a refresh cycle of new products is needed. Peddie says it's price elasticity everywhere. It's an excellent time to buy a graphics board. You did a great job.

Do you want to buy something?

Depending on the type of games you want to play, you should upgrade to a better graphics card. You might only need a budget or mid-range card if you still enjoy the games you played three years ago.

If you want to tackle more demanding new releases, such as Cyberpunk 2077 or Hitman 3, with all the eye-candy turned up to the highest settings, you might want an Intel Core i9-9900K or Core i9-9900K. A top-of-the-line card may be too much for you. You can get a steep discount if you go down in the $500-$700 range. Even if a graphics board is future-proofed for the next three to five years, not everyone wants to pay a lot of money for it.