Sources within the graphics cards industry are continuing to drive home the fact that gamers and other like-minded enthusiasts will have to suffer for at least another year before they can acquire their GPU of choice without unpleasantries such as scalping and exorbitant pricing. The latest warning comes from a DigiTimes report, which expectedly blamed chip and component shortages as one of the main reasons behind the graphics card drought. Cryptomining has also fueled GPU pricing and reduced availability, but manufacturers have little to complain about based on the bank they’re making.
MSI president Jeans Huang expects the company’s consolidated revenues to reach the highest ever level in the first quarter of 2021 and will stay in high gear in the second quarter despite seasonality.
Gigabyte Technology, which saw net profits rise 125% on year to NT$4.37 billion (US$153.29 millin) for 2020, is optimistic that its first-quarter 2021 sales will grow sequentially. Gigabyte also has clear order visibility for the whole second quarter.
Asustek, which has recently increased its graphics card prices by 10-20%, is expected to further raise prices in the second quarter of 2021.
Source: DigiTimes