Why are graphics cards so expensive in 2026 and when will they drop in price?
The RTX 5090 is selling for well over its $1,999 and Radeons have also gone up. The blame isn't just on games: it's memory and AI. We explain what's happening and what to expect.
Translated automatically from Spanish. Read the original
If you've been looking at graphics cards lately, it's not your imagination: in 2026, they are selling far above their official price. The GeForce RTX 5090, which was released for $1,999, appears in stores for several times that amount, and the mid-range and high-end lines from Nvidia and AMD have also increased significantly. The main cause is not a surge of gamers: it's memory and artificial intelligence.
How Much They Cost Now (November 2026)
Prices change every week and vary by store, but these are recent references from US stores collected by specialized media:
| Card | Release Price | Recent Store Price |
|---|---|---|
| GeForce RTX 5090 | $1,999 | Around $3,300 to over $6,000 depending on model and store |
| GeForce RTX 5080 | $999 | Around $1,580 |
| Radeon RX 9070 XT | $600 | Around $930 |
| Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB | $349 | Over $700 |
| Intel Arc B570 | $219 | Around $289 |
Nvidia's Founders Edition maintains the official price in its store, but it's almost always sold out.
Why It's Happening
1. Memory is the bottleneck. The RTX 5090 comes with 32 GB of GDDR7 memory. Memory manufacturers (Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron) are dedicating more capacity to HBM memory for AI chips in data centers, which gives them more margin. HBM takes up more wafer surface area per gigabyte, so less capacity is left for other types of memory.
2. Little growth in supply. The consulting firm IDC predicts that DRAM production will grow by 16% and NAND production by 17% in 2026, below usual levels.
3. AI is also buying consumer graphics cards. With 32 GB of memory, the RTX 5090 is a cheap option for running AI models locally, and developers and small businesses are competing with gamers for them.
4. Costs are being passed on. According to several media outlets, Nvidia has warned graphics card manufacturers that the increase in GDDR7 memory is making its GPUs more expensive.
When Will Prices Drop?
No one knows for sure. Some forecasts suggest that prices will remain high at least until the first quarter of 2027, and there's talk of a lineup refresh coming around the CES 2027. Unlike the shortage of 2020-2022, which ended when cryptocurrency mining declined, this depends on AI spending, which is not slowing down.
What to Do If You Need a Graphics Card Now
- Don't pay a premium for the high-end range if it's for gaming: the difference in games doesn't justify paying triple.
- Look at the mid-range and Intel, where price increases are smaller.
- Consider the second-hand market with a warranty or the previous generation.
- Buy from official stores and be wary of prices that are too low on marketplaces.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the price drop with the release of GTA 6? No, there's no connection: GTA 6 is coming out on consoles, and there's no release date for PC.
Are they cheaper in Europe? They follow the same trend; always compare the final price with VAT.
Is it a good time to buy? Only if you need it now. If you can wait, it's worth it.
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