MSI Plans to Increase Graphics Card Prices

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Image: MSI

MSI’s graphics cards are set to get even more expensive. This is according to company chairman Joseph Hsu, who confirmed during a recent investors conference that the manufacturer would be increasing the prices of its GPUs to reflect tight supply that’s expected to persist until the end of the year. MSI saw profits that were weaker than anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2020.

“[…] Hsu said that the appreciation of Taiwan’s currency, worse product mixes, delayed marine shipment schedules, increasing transportation expenses and surging marketing expenses for year-end holidays all added up to the company’s overall quarterly costs,” DigiTimes noted in its coverage. “However, MSI’s profits in 2020 still managed to reach the highest-ever annual level.”

“MSI saw net profits rise 42 percent on year to arrive at NT $7.96 billion (US $276.97 million) in 2020 with EPS hitting NT $9.42, up from 2019’s NT $6.61. System products including notebooks, desktops and monitors contributed 43 percent of MSI’s 2020 consolidated revenues, while components such as motherboards and graphics cards accounted for 53 percent and other product lines 4 percent.”

MSI’s decision to increase the pricing of its graphics cards is the latest dismal chapter of the current GPU generation, which continues to be burdened by relatively extravagant costs and lack of availability. Many of MSI’s higher-performing models, such as the Radeon RX 6800 XT GAMING X TRIO and GeForce RTX 3080 SUPRIM, are already listed for over $1,000 at popular storefronts such as Newegg.

Tsing Mui
News poster at The FPS Review.

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