A serious price crisis is unfolding in the global computer hardware market, hitting consumers in the United States first. According to analysts and reports from leading tech publications, the cost of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 generation graphics cards (Blackwell architecture) has risen by 39–41% over the last two months. This sharp spike occurred against a backdrop of general supply shortages and a shift in pricing strategy, making flagship models inaccessible to the average buyer.
The US Market: Price Hikes and Order Cancellations
The situation in the US has been the most acute. While prices for the RTX 50 series previously showed stability or slight growth, the dynamics have changed radically in recent months. Data aggregators are recording price increases of nearly 40% for certain models. Furthermore, the situation has been exacerbated by NVIDIA starting to cancel orders placed by buyers before the official price increase. Retailers report supply instability, urging buyers to purchase equipment immediately while it is in stock, as the situation may worsen.
The Gap Between Recommended and Real Prices
Experts are paying special attention to the colossal difference between the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) and the actual cost on store shelves. For example, a model that was originally supposed to cost $550 is now selling at a price 64% higher than recommended — that is nearly a $350 markup. For comparison, prices around $1000, which are currently seen on mass-market models, were originally reserved for the more powerful RTX 5070 Ti version. This indicates that the market has shifted to a "pay whatever the seller asks" mode.
Europe and Asia: Regional Differences
Unlike the dramatic picture in the US, the European market is showing more restrained dynamics. While prices here have also risen, there are no critical spikes. The popular GeForce RTX 5070 model is sold in European countries for approximately €700 including taxes and fees, which, although higher than initial expectations, does not reach the insane American figures. Meanwhile, in Asia (specifically China), the situation mirrors American trends: prices are rising rapidly against a backdrop of severe chip shortages.
Contradictory Data
Disagreements are arising within the user and analyst communities regarding the reasons for such a sharp rise. On one hand, official sources and retailers point to an objective supply shortage (supply tightens) and high demand for new Blackwell technologies. On the other hand, part of the community believes this is artificial price inflation by distributors speculating on the lack of goods. Additionally, there are contradictions in the dates: some sources indicate that the rise began several months ago, while others record a sharp spike only in the last 60 days.
Outlook for Buyers
Market experts agree that the situation will not improve in the short term. A shortage of capacity and high demand for AI solutions continue to support the frenzy. For buyers for whom it is critical to upgrade their equipment, specialists recommend not waiting for prices to drop but acting immediately, as store stocks are unstable. For those not limited by time, it may be worth considering alternative options or previous generations of cards until the market reaches equilibrium.
