Graphics cards and PC upgrades are more expensive than ever in 2023. A gamer wants to buy an Nvidia GPU now, but he hesitates at the thought of paying 1,600 euros. And he is not the only one struggling with this.
The prices for hardware are higher in 2023 than they have been for a long time. Fast graphics cards can quickly cost over 1,000 euros, and such an investment must be well thought out. Anyone looking to buy an RTX 4090 has to put at least 1,600 euros on the table (via geizhals.de).
On reddit, some users are now discussing whether it is even worth investing so much money in hardware. Because hardware that you buy today is already outdated a little later. At least some believe that.
One user writes in a thread on reddit:
Apart from that, I find it hard to believe that I am the only one who has such a kind of remorse regarding the purchase of such an expensive piece of hardware…
Is technology that I buy today already outdated tomorrow?
Where does the thought come from? The discussion has been ongoing among gamers for some time. Many manufacturers tie special features to their hardware to promote and sell it. New features are then, not surprisingly, tied to a new hardware generation. For example, the thread starter writes: “It’s always the same with technology: buy today, outdated tomorrow.”
Current example: Nvidia offers some features, such as DLSS 3.0, exclusively for the latest RTX 4000 series. Simply put: If someone bought an RTX 3080 for 1,000 euros last year, they would have to spend another 1,000 euros to get DLSS 3.0 and other features. Many now believe that without such technology, you can no longer play modern games.
Here, some fear that Nvidia could do the same with DLSS 4.0 or other features. In 2-3 years, an exclusive feature could be presented again.
Because when people buy expensive hardware, they often think: If I buy a graphics card for a lot of money now, then I can relax for the next 4-5 years and don’t have to upgrade so quickly. The thought of investing 1,000 euros in a new GPU every 2 years causes some stomach pains.
What speaks against these arguments? On the other hand, there are also people who say: Yes, such a graphics card is damn expensive, but it’s worth it. The money is therefore well invested and after all, it’s also the favorite hobby. Others invest 1,500 euros in LEGO models (via reddit.com).
Others add: Even if the graphics card should be outdated in 2 years, it is still an outstanding piece of technology (via reddit.com):
I mean, this is really how people buy enthusiast technology. Can you imagine how angry 2080Ti owners were when the 3070 came out for less than half the price? Even with this generation, the 4070Ti is on par with the 3090Ti, which came out for $2000. It will still be a very good card, even if it is outdated.
Gaming has been getting more expensive for years
For years, gamers have repeatedly noted that prices for hardware are rising. This applies to all major manufacturers like AMD, Nvidia, and Intel. Anyone who used to be able to buy a mid-range graphics card for 250 euros now pays more like 450 to 500 euros.
Many users are therefore turning straight to an Xbox Series X or a PS5. Because Microsoft and Sony support their consoles for many years. While consoles can only represent the technical standard of the release year, you get consistent performance over many years. And you don’t have to worry about upgrades.
How do you deal with such expensive hardware? Have you ever regretted an investment of 1,000 euros or more in hardware, or is it part of your hobby to always be on “the cutting edge of technology”?
Sometimes, it also takes simple tricks to get more performance out of the most expensive graphics card. MeinMMO explains how the gamer was able to solve his problem with an RTX 4090:
