Is the GPU shortage killing PC gaming? & if you gpu dies today,what to do next?

According to the report of PCGAMER, the sudden increase in prices made it impossible for average budget gamers to buy gaming hardware. Indeed, one can conclude that if the shortage continues, so it will kill the gaming future!

if you gpu dies today,what to do next?

buy console (XBOX PS or SWITCH or steamdeck?)

I really didn't have too much trouble buying a 3090 at msrp within 2 weeks of launch...just a few late nights following store drops. I usually go all out and build a new gaming PC every other GPU generation. Went from 6700k/1080 at launch to 10900k/3090 at launch.

If my GPU died today...I'd try to get a lower tier model this late in the game until the 4000 series comes out but only at MSRP. If that wasnt possible....I can wait. I still have a switch, series x and a PS5. Think I would be fine on a gaming front 🙂

I have a warranty.

@mobius_basic: you´re rich

It wouldn't kill it but it is having a negative effect on it.

@gtx021 I think I am but my bank keeps calling me a lair.

GPU shortage and also Nvidia and AMD are now shamelessly scalping PC gamers themselves at source with their new products. Blame all the clowns who sent them the message that they will pay literally anything to get their hands on a GPU.

Let's be honest it's not looking good. My 3080 is covered for a few years. After that, who knows where we'll be? I also have a PS5 which I never use, I keep forgetting to sell it.

Did quick check and a local retailer has several RTX 3 series models in stock (RTX3080's, 3080ti's, 3090's and 3070ti's) and some AMD RX6 series cards in stock. I could go over and pick one up within an hour for a bit over MSRP if my 3070 died. prices have gone up there since i got my 3070 a year ago but certainly a far cry from the scalper prices i've seen floating around.

evidently, we aren't experiencing the shortage in the same way as some places.

but I think my card is on warranty so i'd go that route.

If it continued indefinitely then high end PC gaming would effectively be dead. an already niche sector would become absolutely miniscule (halo products generally don't shift huge numbers...a least not in normal times :S).

Low end could end up on relying on integrated graphics as all GPUs would be hoovered up by crypto. there would be no motivation to make a low end GPU for low margin when they can sell higher end GPUs at ridiculous profits. the entry point of a mid range would also be nasty (think 1500+ to build a PC with a 6600Xt/RTX 3060 class gpu).

PC gaming can't really die....but it would be a very nasty blow and reduce the diversity of the platform.

If it continues for the next yew years (especially if the shortage is crypto driven rather than the current situation where its a mixture of crypto and just not enough capacity at fabs) it could also have a nasty knock on effect on consoles (and anything else really). AMD, intel and Nvidia would be a lot less motivated to make console SOCs when they can just sell GPUs for stupid money. more money per mm^2 of silicon. so sony, Ms and Nintendo would need to pay more to get those SOCs designed and manufactured. The only other option is using mobile hardware as a base.

In saying that i dont think it will continue forever (but it doesnt look like it will be fixed this year either). New fabs will be coming online over the next few years to meet demand. Even with crypto (which, unfortunately, doesnt looks like its going away) GPU prices should fall a good deal.

For me: if my V64 died i have a laptop with a mobile RTX2060 and an RX 460 in storage as backup. i wont be desperate to to get a new GPU ASAP. if i had to buy a GPU now though i probably would just swallow the bitter pill and get a 6900XT (the price difference between a 6800XT and 6900Xt where i am is small enough that i may as well get the fully package).

TSMC has already increased prices by 20%, 4000 series will be more expensive. PC gaming is dead for the majority, it is now a super-luxury hobby.

Prices will come down, shops are not selling super fast anymore.

Speculation has chip supply normalizing again by this year and crypto is beginning to shift from farming to stake claim, so hardware won't be as desirable by shitty losers.

PC gaming has survived the last 3000 supposed deaths, this one won't be any different.

@Vaasman: so true

No need to be dramatic, it'll just slow it down for a few years.

If my gpu dies I have a unused 1080 ti I can quickly replace it with. Also warenity from EVGA they have decent customer service unlike the AIB based out of Taiwan.

By the way,just acknowlage you

"""the shortages will never end. they just don't want to say that."""

Nah, not happening. As for if my GPU dies, I have a 3-year warranty.

If my GPU dies, I don't know what I'll do - I don't have a spare. I probably would get a toaster card and keep playing until things ease up. Might also grab a PS5 - a friend offered me one but I don't see the benefit right this moment; however, if my PC was kaput that would change a bit now wouldnnit

I'm pretty screwed if my 1070 dies; it's coming on 5 years and still going strong at this point but anything can happen. I'm for sure not spending more than $300 on a video card, and these days that barely gets you a budget card weaker than the 1070, if at all. Fingers crossed my old 7870 can still put in some work at 1080p?

You buy an entire mid range gaming laptop for the price of a mid range gpu and be happy with it, then sell it later.

I traded my 1070 for my bother's 2060. He needed my extra 2 GB of VRAM for an Unreal Engine project he was working on. But it was supposed to be a temporary trade and I'm considering trading back, because it's gonna be really awkward if one of our cards dies. How would that conversation even go?

"Your video card died. Can I have mine back?"

Not that asking for backsies now won't be awkward either.

3 year warranty and I can buy a new one starting next January to get tax deduct on it again, I'll survive

If my GPU died, I'd play Switch more often. Heck I still have some PS3 and GC games in my backlog.

It would be disappointing, but I'd survive until the chip shortage calms down.

@judaspete: true - seems like a good opportunity to fire up the old Dreamcast and such.

Whenever I buy a GPU, I always ask for a warranty so I can get a replacement on the spot and honestly, I always ask for a warranty on most of my PC components and that goes for my consoles.

I had that scenario already happen to me when all the shortages and price hikes started. back in November 2020 my GTX 1080 died, was out of warranty. Since that September was eyeing RTX 3080 for an upgrade. Had to use an old GTX 960 2gb for 5 months.

Had people looking, was in EVGA Queue for a gaming black RTX 3080 that never came up, even to this day. Newegg Shuffle etc. Finally on that 5th month(April 21') was able to snag a RX 6700xt from Newegg shuffle. Used that for another 5 months and finally was able to get a RTX 3080ti for MSRP on Newegg Shuffle In August. Ended up getting another 2 year warranty on top of the 3 year it came with totaling 5 years. I am not going through that again if i can help it.

I Sold that RX 6700xt for 100 bucks less than what I paid for it, not continuing the cycle and pain of someone else not being able to get a decent gpu for a sound price.

If I had no PC to game on I probably wouldn't game anymore. No intertest in consoles and playing them would make me miss my PC more.

First of all, I'm not a heavy pc gamer, but i would have liked to upgrade my gpu last year. My 580 4gb card is a bit long. With that said, I'm not enough of a gamer to put down $1000, $2000, or even $3000 on a gpu. I see alot of people here have no problem doing that. But imo, that just screws over everyone else who just wants to play at a normal budget. You basically told AMD and Nvidia, you're willing to pay whatever the price for their gpus, even when the xbox and ps5 are selling for $500. And they're not going to forget it, even after the supply issues fade and the crypto tanks.

I'm happy with my consoles, and I refuse to pay $500 for a gpu. They can take that, turn it sideways and stick it straight up...

Based on the new Steam survey it seems a lot of gamers are going the route of gaming laptops. I have as well I bought a Alienware M15 R3 with an RTX 2070 Super for $1400 open boxed last year. When I first saw the laptop listed for sale at my local microcenter when I was looking online for RTX cards I saw 5 other Alienware M15 laptops listed as available but the next day after when I decided to reserve there was only 2 left.

Before I got my laptop I thought my GTX 1080 was going to die because it started to perform badly in games. Fortunately all it need was some new thermal paste.

If my 2070 Super dies, I have a warranty for it. Even if I didn't, I have game on my Switch, 3DS, Wii, and GC that I could always fall back to playing. Hell, I still have a small backlog of games on those systems to complete...

I'm glad I got my RTX 2070 Super back when it was $479. I'm seeing them cost +$800 now...

It sure is killing it for me. GPU'less since July-August. Hard life.

I've got my Series X. Currently running an RTX 2080. I try to keep it running well, make sure it's not pushed within an inch of it's life. And keep it free of dust.

To be honest I'm okay for money right now. I'd probably buy a 3070, even if I had to pay £700+ for it. I have been noticing prices dropping in the UK market, hopefully it will continue.

I've been contemplating buying a 3070 for about £780 - £820 range and then flogging my 2080. Should still get a decent price for it.

I have my current card (RTX 3080) and I generally keep my old cards as backup, so I could use my 2080 if needed. I still have my 980 which is still a decent card, though I swapped to 1440p and I don't think it could keep up with that so I'd have to go back to 1080p (and I have a monitor for that)