Tech Gaming Hardware discussion (& Hardware Sales) thread

[KaNesDeath]

Looking at the surrounding states Microcenter stock. This increased retail price over MSRP is directly affecting high density population areas that lessens as you branch out away from them.

California store has 2 of their 7 9070XT's retailing at MSRP. First 9070XT that retails beyond its MSRP sales price costs $779........

 

[My Spot]

Looking at the surrounding states Microcenter stock. This increased retail price over MSRP is directly affecting high density population areas that lessens as you branch out away from them.

California store has 2 of their 7 9070XT's retailing at MSRP. First 9070XT that retails beyond its MSRP sales price costs $779........

 

[Madmick]

LMAO, @KaNesDeath has always been an Intel CPU fanboy, an NVIDIA fanboy, a Counterstrike fanboy, a Valve fanboy (though aren't we all), and a Blizzard hater, but this is reaching levels of pathology heretofore never seen.

And shit has gotten pretty freaking pathological in the past.

 

[Blayt7hh]

Will be interesting to see how quickly they re-stock and if tariffs will play a factor once they get the 2nd wave.

Unfortunately I saw some headlines that the next batch of GPUs from both companies are going to see like 10-20% spike in price from the tarrifs. Of course that isn't set in stone yet but looks like most likely what will happen.

 

[KaNesDeath]

Unfortunately I saw some headlines that the next batch of GPUs from both companies are going to see like 10-20% spike in price from the tarrifs. Of course that isn't set in stone yet but looks like most likely what will happen.

Its not tariffs. They are intentionally increasing prices: https://wccftech.com/amd-radeon-rx-9070-gpus-increase-in-price-after-first-batch-is-sold-out/

 

[Blayt7hh]

Its not tariffs. They are intentionally increasing prices: https://wccftech.com/amd-radeon-rx-9070-gpus-increase-in-price-after-first-batch-is-sold-out/

It is because of tariffs and nvidia is going to be getting hit by them too

 

[avenue94]

Its not tariffs. They are intentionally increasing prices: https://wccftech.com/amd-radeon-rx-9070-gpus-increase-in-price-after-first-batch-is-sold-out/

Two things can be true. Tariffs increase input costs and AMD has enough demand to probably raise prices.

But most of this is down to the board partners, they've already paid for any GPUs that are hitting the market in the next couple of months. Only way AMD can maintain or bring down prices is if they increase back end rebates. Which they probably won't.

 

[WhiteMousse]

Guys what are we arguing about? I don't think anyone is really happy with NVidia right now, unless I'm missing something.

This is how I feel-- I'd think pretty much all of us wish that AMD was able to muster some scary competition against NVidia. I'm seeing that the RX 9070 XT is competitive with the 5070. That's a step in the right direction and if you're wondering about which way to go, I'd say support AMD.

My dilemma is I hate NVidia's behavior, but can't get around the fact that in the upper level of hardware they're just unmatched right now.

 

[jefferz]

Two things can be true. Tariffs increase input costs and AMD has enough demand to probably raise prices.

But most of this is down to the board partners, they've already paid for any GPUs that are hitting the market in the next couple of months. Only way AMD can maintain or bring down prices is if they increase back end rebates. Which they probably won't.

I could be wrong, but I thought in the Hardware Unboxed video they said AMD is doing a $50 back end rebate.

 

[jefferz]

Guys what are we arguing about? I don't think anyone is really happy with NVidia right now, unless I'm missing something.

This is how I feel-- I'd think pretty much all of us wish that AMD was able to muster some scary competition against NVidia. I'm seeing that the RX 9070 XT is competitive with the 5070. That's a step in the right direction and if you're wondering about which way to go, I'd say support AMD.

My dilemma is I hate NVidia's behavior, but can't get around the fact that in the upper level of hardware they're just unmatched right now.

It's not a terrible thing for AMD to step back from high end stuff when they haven't been able to compete lately.
Look at the Steam Hardware survey. 7out of the top 10 cards are 60 series, or below. That's what AMD needs to be targeting, and then they can throw their hat back in the ring with high end stuff when they get more market share

 

[WhiteMousse]

It's not a terrible thing for AMD to step back from high end stuff when they haven't been able to compete lately.
Look at the Steam Hardware survey. 7out of the top 10 cards are 60 series, or below. That's what AMD needs to be targeting, and then they can throw their hat back in the ring with high end stuff when they get more market share
View attachment 1085351

Sounds like a good plan. Anything to give them competition honestly. I was disappointed with Intel's brand, not because I love them or anything, but because a monopoly on any market is never good

 

[KaNesDeath]

Two things can be true. Tariffs increase input costs and AMD has enough demand to probably raise prices.

Difference here is that the upwards of $150 retail sku surcharge cant be explained with tariffs in the same country.

 

[jefferz]

Sounds like a good plan. Anything to give them competition honestly. I was disappointed with Intel's brand, not because I love them or anything, but because a monopoly on any market is never good

Intel needs time to cook, but only time will tell if they let them continue development, or cancel the division.

Yeah, me not buying a card retailing at 25% over MSRP is an L on me......


Let me ask you. How much are the known name brand 9070XT's like Asus or Gigabyte retailing for at you Microcenter?

You're not new to this, so I don't know why you're acting surprised that not all cards come in at the same price as a reference model. Go back and compare the price of a Strix card to a reference model.

 

[KaNesDeath]

You're not new to this, so I don't know why you're acting surprised that not all cards come in at the same price as a reference model.

I care about the health of the Pc gaming industry. Not Intel, AMD and Nvidia being a cartel in the GPU market.

 

[Madmick]

Its not tariffs. They are intentionally increasing prices: https://wccftech.com/amd-radeon-rx-9070-gpus-increase-in-price-after-first-batch-is-sold-out/

We just went over this. No, tariffs played zero role in the sudden inflation of prices GPU in the last several months including the final quarter of last year. However, yes, retailers (like Best Buy and Target) have already said they expect tariffs will cause an increase to GPU prices in the future because Trump's new tariffs are already going into effect.

Finally, AMD is not the one increasing prices, nor are they choking supply. Demand is so rapidly outpacing supply because the RX 9070 XT is so awesome that AMD's board partners (ex. ASUS, Gigabyte, Sapphire, XFX) believe they can raise the prices on their products in spite of the fact AMD actually supplied them with a healthy stock unlike NVIDIA with its bullshit paper launch. That's in the article you linked, LOL:

As of now, many retailers have received their respective inventory to sell on the launch, and we have heard how some retailers have received over 1000 units of each model. Looks like the availability is far better compared to the RTX 50 series GPUs.

The bad news is GPU buyers are going to suffer a double-whammy. Those board partners (the GPU makers) are going to increase their prices thanks to the supply-and-demand effect, but the GPU retailers are going to have to pass on a tariff surcharge to the customer, too.

Nevertheless, consider this in contrast to NVIDIA who became so greedy by eating into their board partner's ability to make a profit that they effectively drove EVGA, one of the most esteemed and popular GPU makers, out of the business.

 

[jefferz]

I care about the health of the Pc gaming industry. Not Intel, AMD and Nvidia being a cartel in the GPU market.

Nah, this is you being a fanboy.

 

[KaNesDeath]

Nah, this is you being a fanboy.

You understand i just bought a $800 monitor a few months back. Headphones i use still cost $300+ that replaced $200 headphones from 2005. $200 full tower case i bought in 2018 replaced the $200 full tower case i bought back in 2003. $300 fully modular 1000w PSU in 2018 replaced my 400w non-modular Antec from 2008. Five 140mm case fans i have are server grade quality that operate at 160cfm that cost $40 each. All while the CPU heatsink i use is $50.

Common mistake Pc gamers make is spending money incorrectly on their system. With main component hardware that has a short usage life of ~3 years. Things like the CPU, RAM, motherboard, GPU and CPU heatsink.

1080ti i bought in 2017 retailed back then to what a 9070XT retails for me today and 5070ti's MSRP. While the CPU retail market has stayed the same since the 2000's.

Ive been doing this for 26 years. Nothing, absolutely nothing in the GPU market has value.

 

[KaNesDeath]

It is because of tariffs and nvidia is going to be getting hit by them too

It is AMD's doing. They overcharged for the boards since January and didnt rebate them for launch. Making is so those who bought a 9070XT paid at least $730.

 

[Madmick]

You understand i just bought a $800 monitor a few months back. Headphones i use still cost $300+ that replaced $200 headphones from 2005. $200 full tower case i bought in 2018 replaced the $200 full tower case i bought back in 2003. $300 fully modular 1000w PSU in 2018 replaced my 400w non-modular Antec from 2008. Five 140mm case fans i have are server grade quality that operate at 160cfm that cost $40 each. All while the CPU heatsink i use is $50.

Common mistake Pc gamers make is spending money incorrectly on their system. With main component hardware that has a short usage life of ~3 years. Things like the CPU, RAM, motherboard, GPU and CPU heatsink.

1080ti i bought in 2017 retailed back then to what a 9070XT retails for me today and 5070ti's MSRP. While the CPU retail market has stayed the same since the 2000's.

Ive been doing this for 26 years. Nothing, absolutely nothing in the GPU market has value.

Bunch of baloney. That's observable from the Steam Survey just shown to you.

• The most used GPUs are all models in the $150-$400 range, and always have been.
• The bestselling CPUs (as you can see on Amazon review totals or via Newegg bestseller sorting) are almost entirely in the $150-$250 range.
• The bestselling RAM kits are always the best values at any given time, and if a premium is paid, it's for shit like RGB lighting that has nothing to do with bang-for-your-buck strategies.
• The bestselling motherboards are always models in the $100-$200 range.
• Bestselling heatsinks are always air coolers in the ~$30 range. The hunk of metal will last almost interminably. The point of failure is the fans, and those are replaceable.

So, in fact, PC builders are very rational when it comes to value.

Also, anyone using $40 case fans is gonna have a tough time selling wise PC investment to me. There has been quality PWM 120mm fans with hydraulic bearings from reputable companies like Arctic for $7-$10 a piece for a decade, and even server fans don't have a service life that is anywhere close to 4x-6x as great.

 

[avenue94]

I could be wrong, but I thought in the Hardware Unboxed video they said AMD is doing a $50 back end rebate.

That's not much, that was because the price was supposed to be higher and AIBs and retailers had to hold stock longer because AMD delayed the launch.

Keep in mind almost all the stock sold at launch made it into the channel in January, before tariffs.

We just went over this. No, tariffs played zero role in the sudden inflation of prices GPU in the last several months including the final quarter of last year. However, yes, retailers (like Best Buy and Target) have already said they expect tariffs will cause an increase to GPU prices in the future because Trump's new tariffs are already going into effect

Since when does target sell GPUs? At any rate, their winding down their PC business for stores. Walmart is also cutting theirs down. It's really only best buy at this point unfortunately.

Difference here is that the upwards of $150 retail sku surcharge cant be explained with tariffs in the same country.

GPU margins suck bad if you arent amd or Nvidia. Is what it is unfortunately.