hardware

Most PC Gamer readers willing to pay high GPU prices as GDDR7 shortage drives costs

PC Gamer asked readers how much they'd pay for a new graphics card; 56% said they'd spend over $600 and 19% would spend over $1,000. Mid-tier Nvidia RTX 50-series cards have seen sharp retail increases, with the cheapest RTX 5060 Ti 16GB now costing more than the cheapest RTX 5070 and both near $800. GDDR7 memory shortages and increased demand from AI users seeking high‑VRAM cards are pushing prices up, putting pressure on PC gamers' upgrade budgets.

• Poll breakdown: $600–$800 (22%), $400–$500 (18%), $800–$1,000 (15%), $300–$400 (10%), $1,500+ (10%), $1,000–$1,500 (9%), up to $200 (8%), $200–$300 (7%).
• 56% of respondents would pay more than $600 for a GPU; 19% would pay over $1,000.
• Retail example: the cheapest RTX 5060 Ti 16GB is currently more expensive than the cheapest RTX 5070, with both cards selling for around $800.
• Cause and impact: GDDR7 supply strain and AI users buying high‑VRAM Nvidia cards are driving prices higher, making mid‑tier GPUs less affordable for gamers.