Why are GPUs expensive all of a sudden?

[adaseb]

I am trying to buy a GPU as a gift and wherever I look, it looks like prices doubled from what they were like 1 year ago.

Whats a fair price for a 7970? 280X ? to pay

[kotarius]

I am trying to buy a GPU as a gift and wherever I look, it looks like prices doubled from what they were like 1 year ago.

Whats a fair price for a 7970? 280X ? to pay

Where have you been looking?

http://gpushack.com/

[adaseb]

eBay

[bluebox]

I am trying to buy a GPU as a gift and wherever I look, it looks like prices doubled from what they were like 1 year ago.

Whats a fair price for a 7970? 280X ? to pay

Where have you been looking?

http://gpushack.com/

New? Used (as a gift?!?)?

Deals on new kit come along all the time on http://www.newegg.com/Desktop-Graphics-Cards/SubCategory/ID-48, amazon, others. They have a brand new XFX 380 4GB for $170 incl. $20 rebate (a lot better than the XFX 280 3GB refurb for $190 gpushack is offering, essentially the same thing but new for $150 incl. rebate). Newegg sometimes offers current model refurbs with warranty for a smidge less if you care. (No affiliation with them, I just like the service — plenty of other secondary retail you can google.)

And eBay... well, not a good place to judge prices, imho.

[Factmine]

I am trying to buy a GPU as a gift and wherever I look, it looks like prices doubled from what they were like 1 year ago.

Whats a fair price for a 7970? 280X ? to pay

Where have you been looking?

http://gpushack.com/

New? Used (as a gift?!?)?

Deals on new kit come along all the time on http://www.newegg.com/Desktop-Graphics-Cards/SubCategory/ID-48, amazon, others. They have a brand new XFX 380 4GB for $170 incl. $20 rebate (a lot better than the XFX 280 3GB refurb for $190 gpushack is offering, essentially the same thing but new for $150 incl. rebate). Newegg sometimes offers current model refurbs with warranty for a smidge less if you care. (No affiliation with them, I just like the service — plenty of other secondary retail you can google.)

And eBay... well, not a good place to judge prices, imho.

The 380 is slower than 280x in the Ethereum mining.

The GPUs are more expensive than last year, because they are useful for Ethereum mining.

[kotarius]

a lot better than the XFX 280 3GB refurb for $190 gpushack is offering

There is no such GPU for sale on gpuShack, or for that price, for that matter.

[adaseb]

a lot better than the XFX 280 3GB refurb for $190 gpushack is offering

There is no such GPU for sale on gpuShack, or for that price, for that matter.

So the best bang for the big is a 7950/7970 ? The 280X seems too expensive, 270X is too slow, and 290X runs too high and expensive?

[kotarius]

So the best bang for the big is a 7950/7970 ? The 280X seems too expensive, 270X is too slow, and 290X runs too high and expensive?

Check out http://mining.gpushack.com

Best Bang/Buck is HD 7950, followed by R9 280X.

[XERES]

Gpus have always costed alot, at least for gaming, i know that my GPU was the most expensive part of my rig. I dont see anything wrong with paying 200$ for a decent one. But always first hand

[bluebox]

a lot better than the XFX 280 3GB refurb for $190 gpushack is offering

There is no such GPU for sale on gpuShack, or for that price, for that matter.

I stand corrected, the one I was looking at was the $150 lesser model http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150706 instead of the $219 DD version http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150678.

Even so, the extra $30 for a new one includes lifetime warranty on parts/labor and 30-day refund/replacement, which you apparently don't/can't offer on your refurbs...

Ebay sold listings for the 280X are ranging $130-$170. http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=XFX%20280X&rt=nc&LH_Sold=1&LH_Complete=1

[Redrose]

I am trying to buy a GPU as a gift and wherever I look, it looks like prices doubled from what they were like 1 year ago.

Whats a fair price for a 7970? 280X ? to pay

Where have you been looking?

http://gpushack.com/

This website catched my eye. Even if they're refurbished, they have a 2 years warranty that could decide me to buy one.

[JuanHungLo]

I am trying to buy a GPU as a gift and wherever I look, it looks like prices doubled from what they were like 1 year ago.

Whats a fair price for a 7970? 280X ? to pay

Where have you been looking?

http://gpushack.com/

This website catched my eye. Even if they're refurbished, they have a 2 years warranty that could decide me to buy one.

I have used them and they sent me a good 280x.  No problems.

[QuintLeo]

If you have the space, the upgraded fans look like a very good idea - though a 6 watt fan isn't super heavy duty, it's probably a good bit more than the average factory fan and probably flows a lot more air.

 I ended up doing something similar with some of my HIS 7750 cards when the CRAP stock fans on those died - had some 60mm Delta fans left over from CPU coolers I don't use any more, so just wire-tied them to the HS and VOLLA!!!! 15 or so degrees cooler than the stock fans EVER managed - just had to plug them into a 12V "peripheral" MOLEX from the power supply, as there's no way the card itself was going to handle the power draw.

 My Sapphire 7750 on the other hand just keeps going and going and going *WITH* the stock fan......

[Sidtamfia]

a lot better than the XFX 280 3GB refurb for $190 gpushack is offering

There is no such GPU for sale on gpuShack, or for that price, for that matter.

I stand corrected, the one I was looking at was the $150 lesser model http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150706 instead of the $219 DD version http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150678.

Even so, the extra $30 for a new one includes lifetime warranty on parts/labor and 30-day refund/replacement, which you apparently don't/can't offer on your refurbs...

Ebay sold listings for the 280X are ranging $130-$170. http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=XFX%20280X&rt=nc&LH_Sold=1&LH_Complete=1

Just be careful, many XFX cards' voltage cannot be reduced. So the power consumption is quite high.

[kotarius]

If you have the space, the upgraded fans look like a very good idea - though a 6 watt fan isn't super heavy duty, it's probably a good bit more than the average factory fan and probably flows a lot more air.

Happy to report that gpuShack will now be using 15W fans instead of 6W fans for all mining GPUs (link in sig).

[Dofnatues]

If you have the space, the upgraded fans look like a very good idea - though a 6 watt fan isn't super heavy duty, it's probably a good bit more than the average factory fan and probably flows a lot more air.

Happy to report that gpuShack will now be using 15W fans instead of 6W fans for all mining GPUs (link in sig).

If I have 6 graphics card in the rig, the power consumption of the fans will be 90W if you use one each graphics cards. That is quite a lot.

[kotarius]

If I have 6 graphics card in the rig, the power consumption of the fans will be 90W if you use one each graphics cards. That is quite a lot.

You can control the fans with your own fan voltage control solution. Although, better cooling results in more stable performance.

[opmac]

I am trying to buy a GPU as a gift and wherever I look, it looks like prices doubled from what they were like 1 year ago.

Whats a fair price for a 7970? 280X ? to pay

Where have you been looking?

http://gpushack.com/

New? Used (as a gift?!?)?

Deals on new kit come along all the time on http://www.newegg.com/Desktop-Graphics-Cards/SubCategory/ID-48, amazon, others. They have a brand new XFX 380 4GB for $170 incl. $20 rebate (a lot better than the XFX 280 3GB refurb for $190 gpushack is offering, essentially the same thing but new for $150 incl. rebate). Newegg sometimes offers current model refurbs with warranty for a smidge less if you care. (No affiliation with them, I just like the service — plenty of other secondary retail you can google.)

And eBay... well, not a good place to judge prices, imho.

I was not able to locate this card on newegg

[bluebox]

They have a brand new XFX 380 4GB for $170 incl. $20 rebate

I was not able to locate this card on newegg

You snooze, you lose — it's now $199 after $20 rebate, sale's over
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150730&cm_re=xfx_r9_380x-_-14-150-730-_-Product

[opmac]

They have a brand new XFX 380 4GB for $170 incl. $20 rebate

I was not able to locate this card on newegg

You snooze, you lose — it's now $199 after $20 rebate, sale's over
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150730&cm_re=xfx_r9_380x-_-14-150-730-_-Product

Yes. Thank you

Regardless it is still a decent price for a new card compared to a used