Nvidia's 30 series of graphics cards are impossible to come by. Despite their release last year, most retailers have yet to fulfill their backlog of preorders. Stock for anyone else is entirely out of the question, with the company confirming the situation is not likely to improve until Q3 of this year.
This was made harder to swallow by questionable decisions make when they allocated their initial stocks, knowingly selling thousands of cards to cryptocurrency 'miners'.
These so-called 'miners' repurpose graphics cards to run the complex calculations needed to unlock currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Using a single pc chock-full of graphics cards in a 'Bitcoin Farm' is far more efficient that multiple PCs. It's a long-standing feud over the most powerful models between miners and the gaming community.
But it turns out the lack of Graphics Cards isn't just a symptom of questionable decisions and poor planning by Nvidia. There's a global shortage of processors - and we're only just beginning to feel the effects.
It's why the release of the newest generation of iPhones was staggered; there simply haven't been enough processors available to meet demand. You ever seen that movie, Perfect Storm? This is the IT version. Things are so strained, some in the tech sector are calling it 'Chipageddon'.
Shit name aside, they have a point. A complicated new manufacturing process being implemented. Industry-wide demand for processors for new 5G-capable phones. Huawei placing a bulk order just before the US imposed trade restrictions. An earlier-than-expected resurgence in car demand, some of which need over 100 microprocessors each.
And, of course, the pandemic. Between national restrictions, global restrictions, and trade delays, the scale of the problem is significant. Optimistic projections have things recovering toward the end of Q3. More realistically, we'll be in 2022 before there is noticeable improvement.
For the gaming world, even the best case scenario looks bleak. Scalping will continue as cards become available in limited numbers - whenever that may be.
The price of 2080's will remain high - almost as if the 3070 and 3080 don't exist. Because for all practical purposes, they don't. Demand will grow across the gaming community with no supply to satisfy it. The same will apply for the cryptominers.
We may even see the development of the 40 series without the 30 ever becoming commonplace. It's a kick in the teeth. This card was supposed to bring a massive leap forward in performance at a price that rendered the 20 series entirely obsolete.
This will almost certainly affect games design as a whole. Developers will need to slow the drive for better and better (and so more system-intensive) graphics.
If I could implore you, don't buy from scalpers, and don't become one either. Both Nvidia and AMD clearly have a responsibility to implement systems to combat them. But we have a similar responsibility to make it less profitable for them, too.
Like so many things happening right now, we're just gonna have to sit tight and ride it out.
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