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Digital Trends
29-07-2025
- Business
- Digital Trends
Why are GPUs so expensive right now? The answer is far from simple
Yes, some of the best GPUs are horrendously expensive. I know what you must be thinking — what else is new? We've all grown used to the state of things, but that doesn't make it any easier to deal with. Building a PC is now pricier than ever, all because the overpriced GPU accounts for the bulk of the overall cost. But why are we dealing with this right now? The previous generation of GPUs, while still expensive in its own right, wasn't plagued by all the problems that the current-gen cards are facing. Here are some reasons as to why GPUs are so expensive right now. Tariffs played a part It's impossible to discuss this topic without mentioning the tariffs — regardless of the current state of the matter. Recommended Videos Throughout this year, tariffs on imports from China and Taiwan have affected the GPU market (as well as many other markets) in a big way. The situation is still highly dynamic, although right now, tariffs are largely in effect. Deadlines continue shifting as the U.S. administration meets with various officials. Most recently, China and the U.S. 'agreed to work on extending a deadline for new tariffs on each other,' as per the AP. However, a 10% to 20% tariff on imports from some countries still remains in place, with new trade deals with Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Japan all being in that range. As the vast majority of GPUs — or at the very least, the chips that they use — are manufactured outside of the U.S., these tariffs, as well as global economic uncertainties, must play a part in GPU prices. This goes beyond a simple 'there's a tariff, so GPUs have to be pricier' narrative. Uncertainty shook the entire supply chain, and it's creating a ripple effect that trickles down to the consumer. Nvidia and AMD prepared well (but not in the way we want) In the previous generation of graphics cards, meaning Nvidia's RTX 40-series and AMD's RDNA 3, we had it pretty good. We just didn't know it back then. Coming out of the massive GPU shortage of 2021, graphics cards were never quite priced the same, but at least they were readily available. And even if you didn't want to shell out the cash on a freshly released GPU, you could always buy a new card from the previous generation at a reasonable price. This was especially true for AMD. I personally used to recommend buying one of AMD's RDNA 2 GPUs as a budget alternative to get solid performance. Cards like the RX 6800 XT or the RX 6950 XT dropped in price a lot since launch, and there was a period of time where you could easily snag one of those instead of a newer card and get similar performance for less. Well, unfortunately, this time around, that is not the case. Nvidia started sunsetting RTX 40-series GPUs last year. One by one, production slowed down to a halt, keeping the supply of these GPUs tightly constrained. Although there have been fewer rumors about AMD doing the same thing, it's clear that something's up, because last-gen cards, while available, are largely overpriced. It could just be the state of the market as a whole, or it could be AMD keeping better tabs on the supply. One way or another, buying an older GPU is no longer the fix to our current-gen problems. The lack of competition is a problem Speaking of problems, the lack of competition is definitely one, and it's even more noticeable in this generation than in the previous one. Don't get me wrong — I'm a huge fan of both AMD and Intel. In fact, the Arc B580 is the one GPU I keep recommending to people this year, and the RX 9070 XT would absolutely be my favorite if it actually sold at MSRP. I'm not biased in favor of Nvidia; if anything, you'll see me rooting for the underdogs more often than not. With that said, there's definitely a lack of serious competition at the high-end, which is part of the reason why Nvidia can get away with an RTX 5090 that starts at $2,000 (and realistically sells for closer to $3,000). Intel's aim is the budget GPU market, and while it does create some heat for both AMD and Nvidia in that segment, there's just not enough supply for the competition to be serious. The Arc B580 continues selling above the MSRP, and it needs to sell at MSRP for its competitors to have to worry. AMD opted out of the high-end GPU race in this generation, leaving the RTX 5090 uncontested. The RTX 5080 is in a less comfortable position, but the RX 9070 XT can't hope to beat it. At most, it can kind of keep up when overclocked — which is still great given the price difference, but not enough for enthusiasts who want steady, guaranteed performance. With AMD's GPU presence kind of diminished this generation, Nvidia can set the prices, and it does. Then, the market conditions add an extra premium on top of those prices. AMD might be more competitive in the next generation, though, so let's hope for improved pricing across the board. Supply and demand, basically Demand today for our new @amdradeon cards has been phenomenal. We are working with our AIBs to replenish stock at our partners ASAP in the coming days and weeks. MSRP pricing (excluding region specific tariffs and/or taxes) will continue to be encouraged beyond today so don't… — Frank Azor (@AzorFrank) March 6, 2025 The above are just some of the reasons why GPUs are expensive right now. I'm not a market analyst, but as a PC hardware journalist, these are my observations on the current state of GPUs and PC building at large. It all comes down to supply and demand, in a way. Various factors play into scarce supply levels. Meanwhile, gamers still need and want GPUs to power up their gaming desktops. Unfortunately, there's no immediate end in sight. We've gotten through the worst of it. Nearly all graphics cards are available in stores; the pricing remains the problem, though. I'm often asked when it'll get better and whether GPUs are worth buying right now. My advice is usually to wait, unless you absolutely have no other choice. There are other, cheaper PC upgrades to invest in right now, and those should be your main focus. Not every part of the PC building industry has been as hard as semiconductors, and more specifically, graphics cards. There'll come a day when the situation is less dire, but right now, your best bet is to hunt for deals and wait for the odd MSRP restock at your retailer of choice.
Digital Trends
21-07-2025
- Digital Trends
Everything you need to know about the Xbox Series X and S: Price, specs, games, and more
The longer you wait to get a new console, the better value you get. Sure, the Xbox Series X and S hardware haven't gotten any cheaper, but the quantity and quality of games make that initial pricetag far more palatable than it was in 2020. While the PS5 and Switch 2 also have their own subscription services that give you access to a library of games, none come close to the value of Game Pass. All that said, even this many years after launch it can still be hard to tell the difference between the Series X and S, or if either one is right for you. I'll walk you through everything you need to know about the Series X and S, from specs, games, controllers, and more. Xbox Series X and S specs Xbox Series X Xbox Series S CPU 8 core, AMD Custom Zen 2 CPU @ 3.8GHz 8 core, AMD Custom Zen 2 CPU @ 3.6GHz GPU AMD Custom RDNA 2 @ 1.825GHz w/52 compute units (12.15 TFLOPS) AMD Custom RDNA 2 @ 1.565GHz w/20 compute units (4 TFLOPS) Weight 9.8 lbs 4.25 lbs Memory 12GB GDDR6 10GB GDDR6 Memory bus 320-bit 128-bit Memory bandwidth 560GB/s (10GB), (8GB) 336GB/s 224GB/s (8GB), 56GB/s (2GB) Storage 1TB PCie Gen 4 NVME SSD 512GB PCie Gen 4 NVME SSD AV output HDMI 2.1 in/out, 720p, 1080p, 1440p, 4K, 8K HDMI 2.1 in/out, 720p, 1080p, 1440p, 4K I/O output USB 3.2 X 3, Microsoft Storage Expansion Slot USB 3.2 X 3, Microsoft Storage Expansion Slot Communication Ethernet, Wi-Fi Ethernet, Wi-Fi Controller Updated Xbox 4th Generation Controller Updated Xbox 4th Generation Controller Optical drive 4K UHD Blu-ray N/A 4K Support Yes Yes 8K Support Yes No Price $550 and up $380 and up Availability November 10, 2020 November 10, 2020 DT Review 3.5/5 3/5 If you consider yourself more of a 'hardcore' gamer who wants the best graphics, performance, and features, the Series X is the clear choice here. This is the more expensive option, but it holds nothing back in terms of CPU and GPU power, while the Series S is the more budget-friendly option that plays all the same games, only with a few concessions. It should also be noted that the Series S has no disc drive, while there are options for both disc and discless Series Xs. Recommended Videos Despite its age, the Series X is still a very powerful machine. There are some minor differences here between the Series X vs PS5, but the average person isn't likely to spot any differences. Xbox Series X and S design With a home console, the design isn't as important as it is for a handheld, but is still a factor. The Series X is about as utilitarian as you can get. It is essentially a rectangle in whatever color you choose, which makes it fit well with most modern decor. The Series S can be confused for a speaker, but it is so small that you can slot it almost anywhere. This makes the S very easy to take with you on trips if that's something you value. Xbox Series X and S price As of 2025, the price of the Series X and S have actually gone up, not down. Here's how the current pricing looks if you purchase a new system directly from Xbox. Xbox Series X 1TB with disc drive (white) – $550 Xbox Series X 1TB disc drive (black) – $600 Xbox Series X 2TB disc drive (black) – $730 Xbox Series S 512GB – $380 Xbox Series S 1TB – $430 Compared to its direct competitors, the Series X is more expensive than the base PS5 and the 2TB version is more expensive than the PS5 Pro, making the value lean more towards Sony consoles in terms of price for value. The Switch 2 is $450, making it slightly more than a Series S, but is not as easy of a comparison considering the power and portability. Xbox Series X controllers Xbox controllers have changed very little since the Xbox 360. The latest version has the same form factor, only with better build quality. You can opt to get a more expensive Elite controller that has some nice extra features like back paddles, but the standard controller is rock solid. Xbox Series X games At this point in the generation, you wouldn't have time to play all the best Xbox Series X games if you tried. This is where the value of Game Pass really shines since it gives you access to not only all Xbox first-party games, which include Bethesda, Activision, Blizzard, and more, but a rotating list of hundreds of other games, big and small. With rare exception, Xbox gets all the third-party games as well, so the only games you will miss out on are Nintendo and PlayStation exclusives. While that was a bigger deal in the past, the age of exclusives is dying so it isn't quite as big of a factor as it once was. Xbox has been spreading its own exclusives to other platforms, but there are still a few games you can only play on this console. Of course, there's also a ton of upcoming video games in the works heading to Xbox to keep you satisfied for months and years to come. Xbox Play Anywhere and Cloud gaming Play Anywhere is a unique system for Xbox that makes it nearly seamless to take your games with you wherever you go, even to other devices. Once you purchase a game on your account, you can access it from any other Xbox, PC, or select handheld device and continue right where you left off. Not every game has Play Anywhere support, but the list is already over 1,000 games long and more are constantly being added. Cloud gaming is another push for accessibility. Using the cloud, you can instantly start playing supported games without downloading them. This opens up the number of places you can play to almost anything with a screen, including your mobile devices. Granted, the quality of your experience with cloud gaming will rely on your internet speeds, and some games don't lend themselves to the slight delay you experience on cloud in the best circumstances, but it is a handy way to play games quickly and easily.
