The cryptocurrency craze is causing a shortage that gamers aren't going to like
High-end graphics processing units (GPUs) were already expensive. But now that they're being used to mine cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, costs are getting ridiculous.
The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti (1080 Ti for short) is one of the best GPUs on the market right now for PC gaming, but the units are becoming harder to find as retailers can't keep up with the increased demand brought on by cryptocurrency miners. Many 1080 Ti models are regularly out of stock through online retailers, or are getting marked up to higher and higher prices.
SEE ALSO:What happens when governments get into cryptocurrencyThe 1080 Ti typically goes for around $1,000 or less, and it used to be pretty easy to find online. Now popular retailers like Newegg that sell the GPUs list dozens of models as "out of stock," while other online marketplaces like Amazon or eBay have prices marked up by hundreds or sometimes even thousands of dollars.
What makes the 1080 Ti so appealing to both gamers and cryptocurrency miners is its 11 GB of GDDR5X memory running at 11 GBps, which means it can handle a lot of processes very quickly. For gamers, this means high-quality imaging and high frames per second. For miners, this means a faster rate of mining.
People who are really into mining cryptocurrencies can use multiple high-end GPUs to mine at faster rates, and the recent spike in cryptocurrency popularity has made the demand for high-end GPUs skyrocket. Unfortunately, the supply hasn't been able to keep up.
For gamers who are looking to upgrade their PCs to play hardware-demanding games or make their games look better, the shortage means 1080 Ti is a less-desirable GPU. Why wait or pay up for one when you can get a slightly lower quality GPU for less money and hassle?
Unfortunately, other GPUs close in capabilities to the 1080 Ti — like the 1070 Ti or Radeon RX 580 — are experiencing similar shortages and markups (although not quite to the same degree). RX 580 GPUs are also being sold in bundles specifically for mining, and no gamer would need four or more GPUs to play even the most demanding games.
This shortage probably isn't forever, though. If the cryptocurrency bubble ever bursts, the hype will probably die down and everything will go back to normal. Plus, whatever the next generation of GPUs is will make 1080 Ti cards much easier to find and buy.
Featured Video For You
People are spending millions on virtual CryptoKitties
(责任编辑:行业动态)
-
Apple to start manufacturing iPhone Pro in India, report claims
The first iPhone Pro models to be made in India could be coming as soon as September or October this ...[详细] -
“没想到咱青岛的港这么大、这么先进,真是太震撼了!”“下次再有机会,我要带着孩子一块来港上见识见识,确实让人很自豪!”12月24日,以“庆祝 ...[详细]
-
本报讯7月1日,对于芦山县飞仙关镇飞仙村来说,可谓喜事连连——获得雅安市2020年度发展村级集体经济6万元奖励。“真的没有想到,村级集体经济发展起来了,还得到市财政奖励,我们的干劲更足了!”7月6日, ...[详细]
-
鎷涘晢閾惰鍙戝敭钀岀郴鐔婄尗甯佲€滃ぇ鑴哥尗鈥漘涓浗灞变笢缃慱闈掑矝
銆€銆€杩戞湡锛屾嫑鍟嗛摱琛屽彂鍞?018骞磋悓绯荤唺鐚竵“澶ц劯鐚?rdquo;銆傝鐔婄尗甯佸睘浜庝汉姘戝竵浣撶郴锛屾槸鎴戝浗娉曞畾璐у竵锛屽畨鍏ㄤ繚鍊笺€傝甯侀潰涓虹唺鐚舰璞★ ...[详细] -
25 Years Later: A Brief Analysis of GPU Processing Efficiency
The first 3D graphics cards appeared 25 years ago and since then their power and complexity have gro ...[详细] -
在某种程度上,时尚的历史,是人类文明史的一个华丽侧影。我们甚至可以认为,衣服就代表着人本身。正如福克纳所说:“人如果不生活在时尚中,便不存在。”但是,绝大部分人对时尚的态度是跟 ...[详细]
-
本报讯自党史学习教育开展以来,雅安发展投资有限责任公司以下简称:雅投公司)坚持把学党史、悟思想、办实事、开新局融入公司改革发展全过程,积极理思路、找办法、解难题、提实效,为建设机制活、结构优、效益好、 ...[详细]
-
2018年,金融业依旧寒风瑟瑟。“金融民工们”忙活一年了,年终奖能收获几成?《国际金融报》记者采访了包括银行、保险、信托、券商、基金等行业的数十位内部人士,以期揭秘金融业的冷暖 ...[详细]
-
How much for Oasis tickets? Fans joke about splurging on reunion shows
Oasis, one of the biggest bands ever, broke up for 15 years because of a longtime feud between broth ...[详细] -
本报讯为普及应急救护知识,提升应急救护技能,5月29日,市红十字会、雨城区红十字会携手四川农业大学雅安校区食品学院,举办“救在川农”急救员培训班开班。急救员培训班上,市红十字会工作人员就红十字运动基本 ...[详细]