If you wanted to get a graphics card in 2021, you had to check inventory carefully or be prepared to pay a hefty price. However, according to the latest price statistics released by 3DCenter, it appears that graphics card prices are actually dropping in Germany.

According to figures from German retailers (via Videocardz), compiled irregularly by 3DCenter over the past year, prices for the latest Nvidia and AMD graphics cards have dropped on average to 153% of MSRP. While this is still a lot to pay for a graphics card that should be available at MSRP, it is a better sign than the 304% of MSRP that was the average selling price for Nvidia GPUs in mid-May.

A month and a half later, we are looking at a more lucrative GPU market, although it is not yet where we would like it to be. [The prices of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 30 series GPUs seem to be falling at a faster pace than the AMD Radeon RX 6000 series. It is worth noting, however, that these same cards have recorded significant peaks during the peak of inflation.

Currently, the average price of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 in Germany is €799-1,490, down from €1,498-1,649 on May 16. At launch, it was €519.

AMD's Radeon RX 6800 XT sells for €1,089-1,499, down from €649 at launch. Since then, the card has admittedly been difficult to find in stock.

There are many factors involved in the price increase of graphics cards in the first half of 2021. Generally speaking, however, the price increases were due to demand outstripping supply, no doubt seriously exacerbated by the surge in interest in cryptocurrency mining.

The introduction of cryptocurrency mining limiters on all RTX 30 series GPUs could be the cause of the decline in demand for graphics cards on the cryptocurrency side and the resulting price drop. However, this is not enough to explain AMD's decline and may indicate that the GPU supply chain is generally stronger than in the past few months.

The 3DCenter report also seems to support this, stating that GPU supply is "currently adequate" for the quiet summer months.

So the situation is improving, at least in Germany. In China, too, there is reportedly a slight lull in cryptocurrency demand, partly due to the many crackdowns on mining, and as supply stabilizes, we may see price improvements in other regions as well. This is not an isolated case, as there have also been reports of GPU prices falling in Russia.

However, it is important to temper expectations. Graphics card prices are still well above MSRP and supply may not return to normal for some time yet. In the event of such a change, it is important to try to find graphics cards in an honest way, rather than putting cash in the pockets of crypto-miners who are selling used GPUs to recoup their losses.