Why is hardware so bloody expensive right now?

[pjviitas]

I cannot believe the price of hardware right now.

Block Erupter USB's going for like $70-$100/Gh or more.

I just looked at a Blade Erupter 10 pack with backplane going like $5000!!!

Is it possible that the value of bitcoin is driving this...peeps are just running every scrap of mining hardware they can get their paws on?

This whole bitcoin value and hardware value is like a rollercoaster ride.

[SlyFoxy12]

basically, yes and no. to be fair I don't know where you're looking but chances are as that's reasonably old hardware that it's a third party trying to make a quick buck out of noobs who think they're the next 'bitcoin entrepreneur' that will buy hardware so they can stay in the game.

Ultimately, we're at a point where you either need to buy preorders for the next generation or wait for the current generation to become less profitable so people will start to sell them second hand.

[samesstee]

I think the difficulty is so high now that the game has really been left to the big players,  the big players being a range of engineers, tech companies/employees & people who've recently become millionaires through BTCs inflation - so thats your competition!!

Oh & then there are those with free/unlimited/renewable energy, I heard somewhere in the depths of bitcointalk forums of a student mining at a university situated next to a Hydroelectricity plant that they owned & I'm sure there are plenty more people doing similar things.
 

[Thyatis]

The problem is you are coverting it to usd$. U should be thinking of bitcoin not converting. And really some of the equipment is cheap and will make roi

[pjviitas]

I understand what you are saying however I have charted the bitcoin value/difficulty for the last year and it is at an all time low.

Basically, hardware or any kind should be worthless right now.

I think SlyFoxy12 is right...there is a bunch of noobs out there fueling these prices thinking that at ~625CAD mining bitcoins is gotta be worth it however when they realize how hard it is just to make a single bitcoin they will learn.

Oh well...what it is is what it is I guess

[SlyFoxy12]

I understand what you are saying however I have charted the bitcoin value/difficulty for the last year and it is at an all time low.

Basically, hardware or any kind should be worthless right now.

I think SlyFoxy12 is right...there is a bunch of noobs out there fueling these prices thinking that at ~625CAD mining bitcoins is gotta be worth it however when they realize how hard it is just to make a single bitcoin they will learn.

Oh well...what it is is what it is I guess

Not totally right though, if you look at someone like the units KnC are putting out are making bitcoins easily, the problem is you have to really gamble on which hardware maker will actually do what they promise unlike BFL because you have to preorder, you can't wait for a steady supply line and you have to assume that without major price increases you'll only have a small window to make ROI until prices rise, but to be fair, prices will keep increase while there a shortage of decent equipment out there.

[goxed]

We have to ask the chipmakers.

[philipma1957]

simple math AM stopped making the 1/3 gh sticks.   and btc went from 105 usd in sept to 725 usd in nov.   fasthash failed and knc is sold out.  So there is nothing left to buy.

 All you need for prices to become sane is one of the new usb sticks to be supplied fast and in unlimited amounts.   Think all you can buy red furies at 100 usd  on ebay and the other prices will drop.

 i sold 1000 usb sticks on ebay.  i pushed to be the lowest price at all times selling sticks  in sets of 3 to 6.      the new miners that grabbed sticks at as low as 10 dollars a stick from me will make roi in dollars and they are hoping to do better with more gear.

[Budtrader]

Just in high demand right now I suppose.

[johncarpe64]

BTC price went up like mad too..... so hardware should be the same since thats how you get BTC!!!

[polarhei]

I cannot believe the price of hardware right now.

Block Erupter USB's going for like $70-$100/Gh or more.

I just looked at a Blade Erupter 10 pack with backplane going like $5000!!!

Is it possible that the value of bitcoin is driving this...peeps are just running every scrap of mining hardware they can get their paws on?

This whole bitcoin value and hardware value is like a rollercoaster ride.

I don't think it is because of price. It is because of the investment. Normally suppliers have calculated how to earn the needed. He do just little while he tries to sell them away with high price for late comers. Early birds benefit the most.