These GPUs Are... Cheaper Now?!

GPU pricing remains elevated, and this analysis investigates how much it has changed since the beginning of the year, focusing on data from ten countries to provide a global perspective. The data spans November 2025, when prices were at their lowest, February 2026, and updated figures for April 2026, always reflecting the lowest available in-stock prices from various retailers. For Nvidia's entry-level models, the GeForce RTX 5050 and RTX 5060, there hasn't been significant change since February. The RTX 5050 is 3% more expensive, while the RTX 5060's average price is stable. Regionally, the US saw increases of about 10% for both, but the RTX 5060 became cheaper in Australia (8% lower), the UK (7% lower), and India (8% lower). Despite these variations, current prices are still higher than in late 2025, with these cards averaging about 5% above their global MSRP (calculated by converting the US MSRP and adding local taxes). The RTX 5060 Ti series presents a mixed picture. The 8 GB model has seen price drops in most regions, notably 13% in Germany and the Netherlands, correcting back to November prices. It's also cheaper in Poland and Canada, though not returning to November levels. However, it's more expensive in the US. On average, the 8 GB model is 3% cheaper and sits 2% below its launch price, making it the least inflated option for buyers. Conversely, the RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB model saw prices either stabilize or increase in seven regions, with only a few, like the Netherlands, seeing a drop. On average, this model is up 2% and is priced 23% above its MSRP, with Canada and India experiencing over 30% inflation. Moving to the 70 series, US buyers are significantly affected, with the RTX 5070 up 15% from February and 31% from November. While some regions saw price reductions, the global average for the 5070 is 2% more expensive and 11% above MSRP, reaching 19% above in Canada. The RTX 5070 Ti's pricing has stabilized at a high level, dropping slightly (3% on average) from February highs. However, it remains 23% above MSRP worldwide, and up to 32% above in the US. Once these models surpassed the $1,000 US mark, demand plummeted, and limited resupply has prevented significant price corrections. This also highlights the issue of official MSRPs in some regions, where local "MSRPs" are much higher than a converted US MSRP plus local taxes would suggest. For example, the RTX 5070 Ti in Germany is priced at €910, which is only 3% above Nvidia's listed €880 MSRP for the region. However, calculating from the US $750 MSRP, the "true" German MSRP should be around €760, making the current price actually 20% above the true MSRP. Nvidia's high-end models are exceedingly expensive. The GeForce RTX 5080 has fallen 4% since February but is still 23% above MSRP on average, costing a minimum of $1,300 in the US and at least $1,200 US equivalent elsewhere. The RTX 5090, arguably more of a workstation card, has increased 5% from February to April and sells for an average of 77% above MSRP, with prices ranging from $3,500 to $4,000 US. AMD's entry-level cards show little average price change between February and April. The RX 960 XT models are cheaper in some regions (Australia, Germany, Poland) but more expensive in others, particularly the US. Prices remain higher than in November, especially for the more in-demand 16 GB model. The RX 960 XT 8 GB is 6% above its global MSRP, while the 16 GB model is 16% above, with US buyers facing 26% inflation for the latter, compared to 11% in the Netherlands. For AMD's higher-end Radeon cards, the RX 970's average price is unchanged from February, though it's cheaper in Australia and 7% higher in the US and India. Globally, it's about 8% above MSRP, with the Philippines seeing a 17% increase. The RX 970 XT experienced a 4% price drop, one of the largest recorded, becoming slightly cheaper or stable in most regions. However, it's only near November pricing in a few places like Poland. On average, this model is 8% above MSRP, which is comparatively lower inflation. Intel's Arc Battle Mage cards, the B570 and B580, both saw a 4% average price increase from February to April, although some regions were spared. Price hikes for the B580 were particularly severe in India and Brazil, and supply can be limited. Currently, the B570 is 8% above MSRP and the B580 is 16% above, which is not ideal compared to similarly priced AMD and Nvidia cards. Overall, GPU pricing has largely stagnated between February and April 2026 across the ten regions analyzed. Despite reports of rising memory and SSD prices, GPU prices have plateaued. This varies by region, with the US experiencing a 5% average increase in GPU prices, making it one of the worst regions for graphics card pricing. In contrast, Australia and Germany saw prices drop by about 5%, while other regions remained flat. The stagnation is attributed to a significant drop in demand. Retailers report lower sales, meaning much of the current stock is from previous months at original purchase prices. In a normal market, this would lead to price reductions and incentives from manufacturers. However, in the current "crazy market," these adjustments aren't happening, leaving prices high. Resupply prices are also unfavorable, indicating that as current stock sells out, replacement stock will likely be at the same or higher prices. Experts anticipate a gradual increase in GPU prices as current inventory depletes, though slow sales mean this might take time. Regarding inflation, most models are 5% to 25% above their advertised US MSRP. The average across all models and regions is 16% above MSRP, which is concerning given that six months prior, most models were available at MSRP. However, this situation is not as severe as the DRAM or SSD markets, where prices have seen much larger increases. The US currently faces the highest graphics card price inflation among the nine regions analyzed (excluding Brazil due to complex import taxes), averaging 22% above MSRP. Australia and Germany are faring better, at 10% and slightly more above MSRP, respectively. For consumers, buying a graphics card right now is not advisable unless absolutely necessary. There are no indications of prices returning to MSRP levels soon, especially for models with higher VRAM. While some models are severely overpriced, the situation is not as bad as the crypto mining boom. For example, the RX 970 XT is only 8% above MSRP, and the RTX 5070 is 11% above, with 16 GB GPUs still available under $450 US.