The tech market is experiencing significant shifts due to the AI boom, particularly in RAM and GPU pricing. This article explores the current state of the GPU market, the impact of memory shortages, and why upgrading your graphics card sooner rather than later might be a prudent move. The article provides recommendations based on performance and budget.
Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Often, the advice given to those seeking tech gadget recommendations is to stick with their current devices. In the current technological landscape, a new product isn't always a worthwhile upgrade, especially considering the rising costs of everything. However, the present circumstances are far from ordinary.
The memory manufacturer Micron's decision to wind down Crucial, its consumer business, to focus on components for the AI industry, has created a ripple effect throughout the tech market. From an observer's perspective, this move makes sense. Major corporations like OpenAI have signed substantial deals to meet the growing demand. Consequently, manufacturers have prioritized allocation of resources to high-margin commercial customers. This shift has resulted in a significant rise in RAM prices, with some consumer-grade RAM now costing two to three times more than just a couple of months ago. Similar price increases, between 20 and 60 percent, have also been observed in consumer-grade SSDs. Further complicating the situation is LPDDR5X memory, used in smartphones and NVIDIA's advanced platforms. The core focus of this analysis is on the potential impact of these trends on graphics card prices. The AI boom first targeted RAM, and there are indications that GPU pricing is next. Reports suggest that AMD is considering price increases for its 8GB and 16GB models due to the escalating cost of GDDR6 memory. Neither NVIDIA nor AMD has provided comments regarding how they plan to stabilize GPU prices. Concerns also arise regarding reports that NVIDIA might cease providing VRAM to its board partners. Aside from the memory shortage, neither NVIDIA nor AMD is expected to release new GPUs anytime soon. Rumors point to a possible Super refresh of the Blackwell line by mid-2026, which is later than the initial 40-series Super cards launched in 2024. The memory crunch could also impact the release, because they typically rely on larger and faster VRAM to improve the performance of their Super cards. The 50-series Super GPUs may not be announced at the same MSRP as their non-Super predecessors. The architecture is likely to be a significant step forward for AMD. Meanwhile, rumors indicate that RDNA 5 might be released in 2027. This suggests a brief window to purchase a new GPU at a reasonable price, as the existing stock is likely to experience price increases. A potential window for acquiring a new GPU at a reasonable price might exist before the end of 2026. This analysis suggests buying a card with at least 12GB of VRAM, with 16GB being preferable. Models with only 8GB of VRAM are not recommended. We have grouped our recommendations from the most affordable to the most expensive. High-end picks like the RTX 5080 are not listed. For budget cards, such as ONIX cards, are well-regarded. With Intel cards, you sometimes need to deal with driver issues, but the B580 offers unbeatable value. The budget cards are likely to be subject to price pressure. NVIDIA announced the 5060 Ti at an MSRP of $429, and you can still find them close to the original price. The 5060 Ti is a safer option and offers nearly as much performance. The Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT are among the best cards for this generation
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