Will GPU Prices Drop After the Release of the RTX 2000 Series?
The release of the RTX 2000 series from NVIDIA in September 2018 brought significant advancements in gaming performance and efficiency, particularly with the introduction of real-time ray tracing capabilities. However, when a new GPU series is released, it often leads to a drop in the prices of older models for several reasons.
Factors Leading to Price Drops in Older Models
When a new GPU series is launched, several factors can contribute to the price drops of older models:
Increased Competition: The new series competes with older models as retailers lower prices to sell off their existing inventory. Consumer Demand: As gamers and professionals seek the latest hardware, demand for older GPUs typically decreases, prompting price reductions. Market Saturation: If many consumers upgrade to the new series, the market becomes saturated with older GPUs, driving prices down further. Mining Demand: If cryptocurrency mining interest wanes with changes in the market or regulations, it can also lead to lower prices for GPUs in general.These factors suggest that it is likely that prices for the GTX 1000 series and other older models would have dropped following the RTX 2000 series launch. However, actual price movements can vary based on market conditions, availability, and external economic factors.
Analysis of NVIDIA RTX 2000 Series Performance
Some analysts, however, are skeptical about whether the RTX 2000 series will see a significant performance improvement over the GTX 1000 series. One of the concerns revolves around the standard rendering performance of the RTX 2000 series, which NVIDIA seemed to keep under wraps. The ray-tracing performance, while impressive, was perceived as more of a gimmick than a practical feature.
One individual expressed strong doubts about the success of the RTX 2000 series, citing the lack of substantial improvements in standard rendering performance. The ray-tracing performance, while noteworthy, is often seen as less critical for mainstream use cases. This skepticism suggests that the RTX series may not drive the significant price drops seen in older models following similar launches.
Current Market Conditions and Future Outlook
The current market conditions indicate that the RTX 2000 series may not see a significant price drop due to ongoing demand for the older GTX 1080 series. This series is currently mostly being purchased by crypto miners, and this trend is expected to continue for some time. Additionally, NVIDIA continues to push its Pascal GPU inventory through add-in-board vendors, which could hinder the price drops of older models.
In the near future, the availability of the newer GTX 2060, which is expected to become available in December 2018, is likely to impact the prices of mid-tier GPUs such as the GTX 1060 6GB. While the new GPU may cost a bit more than its predecessor, it is expected to offer better price and power consumption improvements.
AMD products are currently in short supply, and they are expected to remain so in the near future. However, if AMD can provide a competitive product with better availability in the coming year with their “Navi” gaming products, it could lead to more affordable prices in the market.
For early adopters upgrading to RTX models from older GTX 980 and GTX 980Ti, they may be willing to offer their old, used GPUs at very affordable prices. If you are not interested in ray tracing, a used GTX 980 Ti can be a good choice, as it offers performance similar to the GTX 1070. The only drawback is its higher power consumption, which is less of an issue during the colder months.
In conclusion, the price drop of older GPU models after the release of the RTX 2000 series is influenced by several factors, but the performance improvements and market demands are key determinants.