What The Hell Is Going on with The Pre-Built PC/GPU Market?

Hey guys, new here.

I'm both utterly confused and annoyed at the state of the current market.

I've been looking for a new pre-built PC since around January this year. I've been religiously refreshing OzBargain multiple times a day hunting for a worthwhile deal. Now, don't get me wrong, there have been some amazing pre-built deals which I'm now sort of regretting not buying (for a couple of others I made it to the checkout screen, or thereabouts, before the goddamned 'Sold Out' message of doom).

But recently (maybe around the last month or two), I don't think I've seen a single jaw-dropping deal despite all the main Youtubers and online posts talking about how prices are crashing?

On the contrary, I've literally just witnessed pre-built PC prices going up. PCByte, as of like an hour ago or so, just bumped up one of their 3080ti PC's by $200. Same with some of their other PCs; some 3080 builds are like $500 more than they were a few months back when I was actually considering buying one at their price.

So my question is, how the hell are we seeing 3080s as low as like $1600- $1700 (arguably the cheapest they've been since launch) being sold, but retailers still charging such a ridiculous price for some of their pre-builts? The cheapest half-decent 3080 PC I can find from a reputable retailer is a recently Sold Out one on PCByte at $3199 (on sale), and that's with a 5600x and quite average everything else.

Am I getting it all wrong here or missing something? Anyone got any advice or tips?

Thanks,
Audiosz

Comments

  • +2

    Global chip shortage also crypto going up in value as well. I don't see prices getting to MRSP for a while.

    Prices aren't going on nor are they dropping, so the prices now are probably the "new" MRSP.

    • Yeah sorry, I should have specified. I'm looking at LHR cards as strictly for gaming.

      I assumed the crypto factor wouldn't affect LHR cards but they still remain insanely high.

      • Affects all cards, lhr and non lhr have similar profitability

  • +2

    Member Since
    43 min ago

    You've been refreshing OzB and you havent heard about the shortages etc?

    • Of course I have, but I've also seen some of the lowest standalone GPU prices in a very long time. Why doesn't the pre-built market reflect that?

  • +3

    I've been religiously refreshing OzBargain multiple times a day hunting for a worthwhile deal
    since around January this year

    Looks like you've missed out on multiple worthwhile deals.

    • +1

      Yep! Big regrets lol.

  • -2

    Because they can and people are paying, just because you're not doesn't mean there isn't a market lol.

    What a question.

  • +2

    Anyone got any advice or tips?

    The 3070 builds I got in March have now earned more than 50% ROI in mining. If I can make money then people with more capital will also make money, and have been doing so between now and then.

    If GPUs are still profitable now (they are) then prices won't go down. Youtube is wrong, apparently

    • +1

      As much as I hate to admit it this is true. People were saying that once Ethereum switches over prices will come down. This is not the case because there will always be demand for crypto mining, NFT's are probably just taking off.

      The problem is that you can literally pay off a 6600XT with four months worth of mining, maybe even less if you under-volt and tweak it.

      So long gone are the days of sub $200 1650 Supers.

    • hi, just wondering, what do you mine that have given you such a big ROI?

    • Fair point I guess and makes sense, but does this somehow carry over for LHR cards too?

      I expected LHR to dip massively since its release - yet to see the drop.

  • where are you seeing 3080s for 1600-1700

  • Haven't done the research on price differences between pre-built and components, but why then not build your own pc?

    As long as you have all required components they are more or less plug and play, and you might save the said 200 dollars??

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