illustrative image of a PC

Should i buy a gpu now or wait

• Written by Kristjan Retter

Heading into 2023, it's important to consider whether buying a new GPU is worth it. While there have been a lot of exciting new GPU releases recently, the reality is that for many people, buying a new GPU right now could be a big mistake.

*This blog post was written based on this video from Graphically Challenged YouTube channel. Watch the video to get a more detailed take on this subject.

Price increases

The prices for new GPUs have gone up significantly, and the price-to-performance ratio is not any better than it has been in a long time. While there are a couple of exceptions, like the RTX 4090, which does offer better value for its price, it still costs a whopping $1600. In contrast, the mid-range and higher-end GPUs offer roughly the same price-to-performance ratio as they have for a long time, which is frustrating for consumers.

Used GPUs are a good deal

If you're looking to save money, the used GPU market is a great place to look. You can find models like the RX 6800 for as low as $400 on eBay, and often times you can even negotiate a lower price. While these used GPUs may not be as fast as the latest models, they still offer high performance at a fraction of the cost.

image showing used rtx 6800 price historyView New & Used RX 6800 Price History

You may not need a new GPU at all

In some cases, the bottleneck in a system may not be the GPU, but rather other components that need to be upgraded first. Additionally, certain optimization and settings adjustments may be all that's needed to improve performance. It's always worth doing some research and troubleshooting before splurging on a new GPU.

The GPU market may improve

If we continue to support high pricing for new GPUs, it will only make things worse in the long run. By not buying new GPUs, we can help improve the health of the GPU market and bring prices down. In conclusion, before you spend thousands of dollars on a new GPU, consider the used market and whether or not you truly need a new GPU at all. By doing some research and being mindful of your budget, you can save yourself a lot of money going into 2023.