If you are an avid consumer of electronics, or had tried purchasing a high-end graphics card in recent times, then you would have been startled by the lack of availability or, if they are in stock, the astronomical price tag. To make matters worse we have seen the demand for such products grow exponentially since the pandemic began and staying home (and passing the time playing games) became more common.

The bad news is that TSCM, a hardware manufacturer for Apple, AMD, Qualcomm, and other companies, has signaled that things won't get better until 2022. Intel and Nvidia have given similar predictions.

The good news is... well, there isn't good news, just hopeful news. Although there is a shortage for PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles, and RTX 3000 cards, with determination and a little luck, you can find the hardware at the time of its restocking. That is, if scalpers don't beat you to it.

How Did the Shortage Begin?

The extremely high demand for computer chips combined with several external factors, such as the increasing scarcity of quality raw materials, the trade war between the US and China, and especially the COVID-19 pandemic, are some of the reasons for the high price and limited stocks of video cards and next-generation consoles. Several other industries, such as the automotive industry, are also affected.

With many people spending more time at home, the demand for laptops, smartphones, tablets, and TVs, for example, increased considerably in 2020.