The RTX series from Nvidia is a fan favorite. It’s their latest lineup and has Ray Tracing technology.
Having said that, this lineup is specifically relatively expensive. Not everyone can afford it, and many people wonder why RTX graphics cards are so expensive.
It’s mostly expensive because of its cutting-edge ray tracing technology. The recent chip shortage and high demand for GPUs also play a role.
The RTX series is the main topic of the article, and we’ll explain why it’s so expensive.
Let’s buckle up.
Table of Contents
What’s an RTX?
First, let’s figure out what “RTX lineup” means.
RTX is a variant of Nvidia’s GeForce series. It stands for Ray Tracing Texel Extreme.
These cards were designed specifically to support real-time ray tracing, which makes the video look extremely beautiful and realistic.
It is primarily used for gaming, filming, and video production.
Why Does RTX Cost So Much?
There are two main reasons why RTX is so expensive:
The Global GPU Crisis
Due to the pandemic in 2020, many GPU manufacturers were unable to produce any products. Along with that, there are now more and more people who need GPU. The industry has growing demand, but no available supply.
Because of this imbalance between supply and demand, the few RTX GPUs that are still on the market cost a lot. The worst part is that no one is able to do anything about it.
When there aren’t enough of something and there aren’t enough rules, the people who still have it can charge whatever they want, and people will just have to pay it. As a result of the free market’s lack of regulation, RTX GPU prices have skyrocketed.
The shortage of silicon chips around the world is also a big reason why RTX GPU prices are going up. Read this article to learn more about why graphics cards are getting more expensive every day.
Specs and Features of RTX GPUs
The power and capability of RTX graphics cards are another major reason for their high price. All RTX GPUs support ray tracing, which allows a game or video to simulate how light behaves in the real world. It produces a stunning and realistic image in games, films, and camera shots.
If you think about it, you’ll realize this isn’t such an easy feat for a computer to accomplish. To achieve this in real-time, many computations and calculations are required.
Lucky for us, RTX graphics cards have mastered this art. With RTX enabled, games can now run at 90 or even 120 FPS (frames per second). It was previously unimaginable.
Because these graphics cards are so powerful, they are relatively more expensive. They are more in the mid to high-tier price range, with prices ranging from $500 and up.
Even though the prices of RTX GPUs are going up, you shouldn’t worry too much. Prices will eventually fall as the chip shortage subsides and more units are sold. They’ll eventually become more affordable, and everyone will be able to take advantage of them again!
Which RTX GPUs are the Best?
GeForce RTX 3090, RTX 3080, and RTX 3070 are three of the best graphics cards ever made. They are the most powerful and are reasonably priced in comparison to their performance and other competitors.
Almost all of the products made by Nvidia are high-end. Particularly the RTX series. RTX 3090 is without a doubt one of the best and most high-end graphics cards on the market right now.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
With the Radeon RX 6800 XT, AMD isn’t too far behind. In fact, it’s almost as good as the RTX 3080 in terms of graphics performance.
All of these GPUs support RTX and are among the best available.
What is the Cheapest RTX Card?
However, not all RTX cards are prohibitively expensive. You have some mid-range and low-cost options that will meet everyone’s needs.
A growing number of RTX graphics cards are actually less expensive than you might think. The RTX 2060 is significantly less expensive than the previous-generation Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070, 1080, or even 1080 Ti.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Depending on the card you choose, the savings can be different. The RTX 2060 used to be ~$349, with Nvidia and third-party sellers offering lower prices. Due to a lack of chips, the price has gone up a bit.
Thankfully, that is not the end of the story, as prices will most likely change as more manufacturers produce more cards and demand falls. However, for the time being, the cheapest card available is the Nvidia RTX 2060.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is RTX more powerful than GTX?
Some say that RTX is better than GTX. With newer games, its high-end ray-tracing and overall higher fps put it ahead. And the RTX series is the best for higher resolutions like 4K.
Does RTX work well for games?
RTX is the best gaming card you can find on the market right now. It works really well with high-resolution games and supports RTX.
How much faster is the RTX 3090 than the RTX 3080?
RTX 3090 is approximately 9% faster than RTX 3080. However, the cost varies depending on your shipping location. RTX 3080 isn’t a bad choice at all if you can get it for a reasonable price.
Does RTX 3080 support 4K?
Yes. The RTX 3080 can handle 4K and some games can even run smoothly at 144Hz. In fact, almost all of the RTX GPUs support 4K at high frame rates.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you now know why RTX graphics cards are so expensive. In this article, we’ve discussed the RTX lineup and some cheap and affordable RTX GPUs for your convenience.
All in all, we hope the chip shortage is temporary and that GPU prices will return to normal. Hopefully, everyone will be able to purchase them without breaking the bank. If you’re in the market, we hope you find something affordable as well.
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