Memory supply constraints and surging AI demand are pushing graphics card prices into another rally. GPU retail prices in the US have climbed noticeably over the past month, with DDR5 memory rising in parallel. The pressure across the PC hardware market is not easing.

New cards are already well above MSRP

The RTX 50 series and AMD RX 9000 series left their original price brackets some time ago. Take the RTX 5070 Ti: MSRP sits at $749, but market prices are approaching $1,150. The RX 9070 XT has risen to around $800. The gap between the two has widened from $150 to roughly $350 – enough that some buyers are re-evaluating whether stepping up to a higher-tier AMD model makes more sense.

It is not just gaming cards. The NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 has also jumped sharply due to memory costs and broader GPU pricing, now selling for $16,000 in the US – nearly double its launch price. Built for AI developers, engineers, and 3D creators, it shows that professional cards are feeling the same supply pressure.

The second-hand market is waking up

The more interesting shift is what this is doing to older GPUs. Strong demand and tight supply have pushed up prices in the second-hand and resale channels. Cards that might once have been written off as obsolete are now holding real resale value.

The takeaway

With memory shortages persisting, graphics card prices are unlikely to return to previous levels in the near term. If you have an older GPU sitting unused, it may be worth more than you assume. And if you are buying, the calculus has changed – not just for new cards, but for the entire market.