Why you should hurry to buy a graphics card: Prices may rise by up to 30%

PC gamers and hardware enthusiasts have received an unexpected warning: by late November 2025, graphics card prices may jump by as much as 30%. The statement came from PowerColor — one of AMD’s key Radeon manufacturing partners. It was posted on Reddit by an official company representative, who stressed that the best time to buy a GPU is before the final week of the year. The reason is a sharp increase in the cost of GDDR memory, which has already driven up the production cost of graphics cards.

Memory Price Surge: A Chain Reaction in the Industry

PowerColor rarely issues public price forecasts, which in itself signals how serious the situation is. According to the company’s representative, NVIDIA and AMD supply their partners with not only GPU chips but also components such as GDDR6 and GDDR6X modules. The price of these memory chips is rising in parallel with DDR5, which is used in PCs and laptops. AIB (Add-In-Board) manufacturers — including PowerColor, ASUS, and MSI — cannot purchase GDDR from alternative suppliers at lower prices; they must follow the terms set by the market’s dominant players.

The representative warned that once short-term discounts end on Sunday, prices would rise by up to 30%. The increase will affect most current models, from Radeon RX 7000 and GeForce RTX 40/50 series cards to more affordable options.

Why Now: Key Drivers Behind the Price Hike

The rise in memory prices is part of a broader global trend. In 2025, demand for GDDR surged due to:

• The boom in AI and data centers (even though NVIDIA’s H100/H200 use HBM3, GDDR for consumer GPUs is becoming more expensive as well)
• Semiconductor shortages following earthquakes in Taiwan
• A shift in manufacturing capacity toward HBM (high-bandwidth memory) for AI servers

Analysts at Videocardz noted that retailers may temporarily soften the price increase through promotions, but the effect will be short-lived. By New Year, prices are expected to stabilize at a higher baseline.

What Gamers Should Do: Expert Advice

1. Buy now: The last days of November are the best window of opportunity. Black Friday and 11.11 discounts are still active.
2. Best targets: Radeon RX 7800 XT and RTX 4070 Super offer the best price-to-performance balance ahead of the hike.
3. Alternatives: January 2026 may bring clearance sales of old stock, but prices won’t fall below inflation-adjusted levels.
4. Keep watching: CES 2026 announcements — including RTX 50 and RX 8000 — may help stabilize the market.

In Short

PowerColor warned that GPU prices will rise by up to 30% after November 24 due to the growing cost of GDDR memory. Buy before the end of the year — prices will only go higher. The increase affects both Radeon and GeForce cards across all tiers. Gamers, this is the moment to act.