Even mid range GPUs are (still) going for the cost of a new console. I've recently done nearly a full upgrade of my PC, but I can see why so many people are making the switch to mobile or console gaming, which offers perfectly acceptable levels of performance for 99% of players.
Yeah, I remember the days before bitcoin mining when you could get deals every time a new generation was released. Current used hardware is barely discounted on second hand markets.
*Ethereum mining. I don't think GPU mining was ever profitable for bitcoin FWIW. I do think it's ridiculous seeing 3 year old GPUs being sold for just -20% off MSRP even after clocking literal years of runtime
Honestly, I never got into crypto enough to know the difference. I just know that was when the second hand market dried up and prices got absurd.
Isn't it all about the AI now?
Isn't Ethereum using proof of stake now? I don't think GPU mining exists for it these days.
Because people can't afford food
On the business side, general PCs post SSD don't need upgrades like they used to. My refresh cycle is almost twice as long as in the past.
That and the absolute dumpster fire that is microsoft desktop OSs post-7. Switching to linux extends your hardware lifespan significantly, so that's an incredibly attractive option in the current economic climate
These analysts can take their ambitious thinking elsewhere. I for one have no plans to upgrade, especially while GPUs cost as much as a console (originally mentioned by @PP_BOY_@lemmy.world )
My R7 2700 + GTX 1060 will carry me until prices come back down
What vendors are pinning their hopes on is sales getting a boost thanks to interest generated by the release of the next version of Windows
Windows will just make a bunch of hardware obsolete. Shit for the environment, good for PC vendors - unless people massively switch to linux, whic probably won't happen.
The only hardware upgrade I will see myself making in the foreseeable future is changing out my 3600 for a 5700x3d solely so I can keep my current AM4 mobo for as long as I can.
With parts being hella expensive and my 3060ti still going strong, I don’t see why I shouldn’t just keep what I have until they either die or break.
Same I got a 3080 in 2021 when they finally hit $900 which was still too much, and last month went from a 5600X to 5600X3D for an extra 20% performance for $200. Now don't have to upgrade for another 2 years or so
I fell into this bottomless pit and don't know when I'll upgrade. My 2070 super is great but showing it's age and I've waited so long that now effectively the entire interior of my case needs to be upgraded. Just can't justify the cost right now as I know it'll amount to 1k+
There's plenty of down to go.
With falling sales, prices must rise because they have to have bigger margin on each sale to cover fized costs. This drives sales down further.
15 years ago you needed a PC to get on the internet. Those days are long gone.
That's funny that they think that the number must go up. Phones are getting more and more powerful, and I've actually seen pretty impressive desktop modes for them. I'm not talking about $1000 phones either, but $200 phones. You could easily do office work on such a phone with a docking station, plugged into a monitor with a keyboard and mouse. You can even do some decent gaming on such a setup.
Besides that, hardware in general just lasts longer. I built my current PC in 2016 that I'm still using and can still play new games (I played Armored Core 6 to completion most recently). With the laughable prices of graphics cards now, I'm content with keeping this system going for even more years. I may even opt to go for an APU in my next build, if only to tell nvidia to fuck off with their price gouging.
New PCs come with Windows 11.
I think AAA studios are the main culprits here, I haven't been playing more than one game a year that requires a recent setup for many years now, and most of my friends are in the same boat. Most people in that situation aren't gonna buy a new GPU even if a mid range card was ~$400. Graphics haven't been improving much even in AAA titles either since the MO of live service titles is to get as many people playing as possible.
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