Concern for graphic card manufacturers

[Rastalovich]

Something which has been increasingly bothering me over the last month+ I would guess.

Generally when u goto an online store to purchase a gfxcard, there is a whole list of cards, new and old, and also a nice range from each manufacturer with a few twists to each one.

Perhaps the "OC" or "XXX" badge, maybe a custom cooler. A new packaged game.

I give an example of 2 online stores, although understandably there are dozens to choose from, Scan & Ebuyer - it's almost like going into a shop and the shelves are bare. What they may have are some empty boxes showing OOS.

To be fair, if u want to buy a 57xx card, u 'can' get one. Possibly a 5850 if ur lucky, perhaps not a 5870. 47xxx/48xxx seem to have fair stock, just not a range of manufacture options.

To flip camps, the GT200 series of performer cards are very much OOS, u can get the newer GT210/220/250 - although still not a huge selection.

The idea used to be, u'd thrash out which card u wanted in terms of which camp and performance level u want to achieve, then pick a manufacturer u might favor over another. I can't see this option at present. U can to a degree with previous generations, not to a great extent.

Something seriously is going on. I can't see it being any sort of blameage aimed at the likes of tsmc. They're personally doing well and figures looking good. Pcb manufacturers ? Foxconn with the connectors ? Cooling cover makers ? Who is it ? Contractual disputes ?

Maybe there's a field full of freight containers somewhere that are full of gfxcards and some1 lost them ?

My concern is with the lack of availablity and options across the board and the online shelves. Be great to get some serious non-speculative answers.

One thing is for sure, some1 like XFX can-not be showing good figures for Q4 2009 - cos they simply don't have the cards on the shelves. BFG seem to have some out, Gigabyte have some too - ASUS even. (and of course sprinklings of all sorts of manufacturers) They're there, but in short quantity and choice.

eVGA's release of a "Halloween" card might just be that sort of gimmick required to drum up new sales. Kit they already had and can push out with existing gear.

Consumer will ofc suffer the supply/demand, and UK's "charge as much as u can get away with" attitude.

[sammytomjohn]

looks like u have had this on ur mind for a while rast!

[Msm2]

I agree with you Rasta but it is not only graphic cards but also other pc components too.

[Rastalovich]

Mainboards and cpus don't seem that effected. PSUs and drives are pretty abundant. Opticals are still readily available.

However their rate of upgrade and/or renewal out of age or even necessity are deminishing I'm sure.

Mid to high-end 775 system - do u ~need~ i7/5 ? Not really. Massive strides ? No. This sort of tech hold-back has been around since 2006.

SATA3 & USB 3 are being touted, but I'm hearing that capable stuff to utilize them may not be about til 2011. MSI have pushed both to the side for the time being apparently.

[Mul.]

I agree with Rastalovich that Graphics Card production for the mid range and up seems to be an immediate concern. The word is that nVidia has near enough cut the production of GT200 based graphics cards and ATi just don't have enough Cypress HD 5800 cores to go around. The end result is a serious lack of supply of graphics cards north of the GeForce GTS 250, Radeon HD 4870/4890 and HD 5770. Until nVidia have a midrange replacement and release Fermi and until TMSC can chuck out huge quantities of HD 5800's, we will see price hikes, which will also worsen with the VAT increase in January. It's not good.

[Rastalovich]

At a point in time ~really~ where they should be trying to get us to spend money. Higher prices aren't going to help their cause.

Last thing I want to see also is manufacturers going out of business. But if ur not selling stuff.