The chip shortage, initially centered on RAM, has now expanded to hit the global supply of high-capacity SSDs and hard drives. The sudden scarcity has sent prices soaring for many products.
Graphics cards like the RTX 5070 Ti are facing a major disruption due to the lack of available RAM chips. Asus recently made headlines by announcing that it would be discontinuing this model, although the company later walked back its statement. However, for manufacturers, there's an even more compelling argument: why continue producing a high-end GPU with a relatively modest price tag when you can allocate resources to a more expensive model?
This shift in strategy makes sense, as prices for GPUs currently range from $1,050 to $1,100 for the RTX 5070 Ti models, compared to $1,500 to $1,600 for its higher-end counterpart. The latter may require more complex components but offers significantly higher profit margins.
While it's a challenging time to buy high-end graphics cards, enthusiasts can still find decent options in the lower end of the market. For instance, the regular RTX 5070 is available at around $560 or $570, just over its original MSRP. The Radeon RX 9070 and GeForce RTX 5060 are also relatively affordable.
However, when it comes to high-capacity SSDs, the situation is more dire. Prices have increased dramatically for larger capacities, with a 2TB drive from Samsung currently selling for $440, compared to its original price of $177 in mid-December. The availability of these drives has become increasingly scarce, and prices are expected to continue rising.
The hard drive market isn't immune to the shortages either. Prices have started to climb for larger capacities, although at a more gradual pace than SSDs. A 6TB WD Red NAS drive that was once available for $140 is now listed at $160, while its 4TB version has risen from $80 to $100.
While these price increases may not be as severe as those seen in RAM and high-capacity SSD markets, they are still worth monitoring as buying patterns can shift significantly due to changes in supply.
Graphics cards like the RTX 5070 Ti are facing a major disruption due to the lack of available RAM chips. Asus recently made headlines by announcing that it would be discontinuing this model, although the company later walked back its statement. However, for manufacturers, there's an even more compelling argument: why continue producing a high-end GPU with a relatively modest price tag when you can allocate resources to a more expensive model?
This shift in strategy makes sense, as prices for GPUs currently range from $1,050 to $1,100 for the RTX 5070 Ti models, compared to $1,500 to $1,600 for its higher-end counterpart. The latter may require more complex components but offers significantly higher profit margins.
While it's a challenging time to buy high-end graphics cards, enthusiasts can still find decent options in the lower end of the market. For instance, the regular RTX 5070 is available at around $560 or $570, just over its original MSRP. The Radeon RX 9070 and GeForce RTX 5060 are also relatively affordable.
However, when it comes to high-capacity SSDs, the situation is more dire. Prices have increased dramatically for larger capacities, with a 2TB drive from Samsung currently selling for $440, compared to its original price of $177 in mid-December. The availability of these drives has become increasingly scarce, and prices are expected to continue rising.
The hard drive market isn't immune to the shortages either. Prices have started to climb for larger capacities, although at a more gradual pace than SSDs. A 6TB WD Red NAS drive that was once available for $140 is now listed at $160, while its 4TB version has risen from $80 to $100.
While these price increases may not be as severe as those seen in RAM and high-capacity SSD markets, they are still worth monitoring as buying patterns can shift significantly due to changes in supply.
the whole chip shortage thing is getting out of hand... it's like the whole industry is just trying to pass the buck on who's really in control here 
and i think what's crazy is how some companies are taking advantage of this situation - like, come on, if you're gonna discontinue a product just because you can't get the right RAM chips, that's not exactly genius business strategy 
. 
... i guess what's left of the market is still worth looking into, but it's like they're selling you a used car - it might not be perfect, but hey, at least it'll work right? 
. Like, can't we all just enjoy our games and watch some 4K vids without breaking the bank? 
). Seriously though, who knew high-end GPUs would become so affordable after all those months of waiting? 
I mean, what's next - affordable high-capacity SSDs? 
.
like what's gonna happen 2 all our gaming setups? i was thinkin of gettin a new rtx 5070 ti but now it's like, impossible 
anyway, i guess it makes sense for them 2 discontinue it tho... i mean, why waste resources on somethin that's not gonna make u much profit 
like the rtx 5060 or the radeon rx 9070... idk tho, i still wanna get my hands on that rtx 5070 ti 
I'm literally struggling to find a new 1TB SSD for my gaming PC... like every single online retailer is sold out! 
I think manufacturers have a point though, why waste resources on a model that's not moving as much? 
. But hey, at least there are some more affordable options out there for the lower end... like I said, the RTX 5070 is still relatively priced. 
Fingers crossed they can get some of these high-capacity drives back in stock soon! 
the chip shortage is like a mirror held up to our society... we're forced to reevaluate our priorities 
. if you really need the latest and greatest GPU or SSD, are you prepared to pay the premium? 
! Can't believe the prices for high-end GPUs and hard drives are skyrocketing 
. I was planning on upgrading my rig but now I'm stuck with an old one 
. And don't even get me started on those SSD prices - $440 for a 2TB drive?! That's crazy! 
I remember when it was around $177... what happened to the good old days of affordable tech?