We Know the Reason for GPU Shortages
Why can't we buy graphics cards? Igor Wallossek, well-known hardware guru, investigated the matter and has reached some interesting conclusions.
- For a long time there have been serious problems with the availability of graphics cards and other PC components;
- Igor Wallossek from igorslab.de decided to investigate the topic. The reason for the problems is the huge shortage of components, the pandemic and the renewed boom in cryptomining.
Why is it so hard to buy PC hardware, especially graphics cards? The question has been asked extremely often lately. Some point to the coronavirus pandemic, others to the renewed boom on cryptomining. Igor Wallossek from igorslab.de, a well known website in the PC enthusiast community, decided to investigate the topic.
He decided to ask at the source, using his contacts in the industry. He did not reveal exactly where he directed his steps, in order not to burn the informants. However, he managed to find out why the GPUs are so hard to buy these days.
The main problem is the shortage of components, chips, VRAM modules and even PWM controllers. TSMC, which cooperates with AMD, cannot fulfill complex orders; this Taiwanese company manufactures hardware in three technological processes (3, 5 and 7 nanometers) and has serious problems coordinating everything. Combined with a disrupted supply chains for materials from subcontractors, the picture that emerges is one of production lines that cannot keep up with demand. Samsung, which produces Nvidia's 8-nanometer chipsets reserved for the GeForce RTX 3000 series, can rely on its resources and supply chain to some extent, but even so, it faces its own, albeit not as severe, production problems, including those related to insufficient chip yields.
The pandemic is also doing its part. Not everywhere the factories have regained 100% capacity. The extra costs that companies have to incur because of the sanitation regime are also significant. This raises the price of every component that eventually lands in PC hardware.
The availability of GDDR6 and GDDR6X memories is also an issue. The demand is huge. Not only because of the new generation of AMD Radeon RX 6000 and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3000 GPUs, but also because of the growing sales of laptops and the debut of the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. It seems that a bigger problem than the availability of faster GDDR6X memory produced exclusively by Micron for Nvidia is the insufficient number of Ampere GA102 chips on which the top GeForce RTX 3080 and 3090 GPUs are based.
We also can't forget about the problem of the renewed boom in cryptocurrencies. As Wallossek reports, the most popular model among miners is definitely the RTX 3060 Ti. Nvidia produces enough chips to satisfy the market in normal times. Unfortunately, for miners the new cards are a vein of gold and they often buy them directly from manufacturers. For the latter, it's a way to make more money, as distribution costs, store fees and possible warranty can be cut out.
The article also contains Igor's comment on Nvidia's announcement that the availability of the cards will improve in spring. According to him, these are pipe dreams, which he likened to the cries of a panicked child who got lost in the woods and does not know what to do. The second half of 2021 also does not look good, which can be confirmed by plans to re-launch sale of RTX 2060 models.
