Nvidia’s newest graphics cards have become increasingly scarce due to scalpers and tariffs, making it impossible for consumers to find them at market price. Now, one of the OEM manufacturers, MSI, has taken advantage of this demand by raising prices on its cards. The RTX 5070 Ti Shadow 3X now costs $819.99, up from its launch price of $750. Other models, such as the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090, have also seen significant price hikes.
The price increases are part of a broader trend in the industry, driven by the usual relationships between Nvidia and OEM manufacturers, combined with high demand for these cards among PC gamers and AI enthusiasts. The US government’s import tariffs also play a role, as manufacturers pass on the costs to consumers. This “perfect storm” has led to prices being pushed higher.
Critics argue that MSI’s price increases are unsustainable, especially when compared to AMD and Intel’s more affordable options. As one of Nvidia’s closest OEM partners, MSI’s actions may be seen as questionable, giving competitors an opportunity to attract customers with lower-priced cards.
Source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/2625336/msi-bumps-prices-for-rtx-50-series-cards-goodbye-msrp.html