May 2026 GPU Price Index
The inaugural edition. The state of graphics-card pricing, measured across major U.S. retailers. Where the deals are, and where the pain is.
The Headline
Of 51 new GPUs we track, 26 sell below MSRP, 22 above, and 3 at MSRP. The market average is essentially flat at +0.5% vs. MSRP, but that average hides a sharp split: last-generation cards are being cleared out at steep discounts while current-generation and still-scarce flagships carry double-digit premiums.
In plain terms: 2026 is a great year to buy a previous-gen GPU and a punishing one to buy the newest silicon at list price.
A representative spread across the 51 cards we track. The full split runs from −54% (RTX 3080 Ti) to +104% (RX 6650 XT). Lowest in-stock price vs. launch MSRP, May 2026.
Where the Deals Are: Last-Gen Clearance
| Card | MSRP | Lowest in-stock | Discount |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti | $1,199 | $549 | −54% |
| NVIDIA RTX 3070 Ti | $599 | $375 | −37% |
| AMD RX 6800 XT | $649 | $419 | −35% |
| NVIDIA RTX 3070 | $499 | $325 | −35% |
| AMD RX 6900 XT | $999 | $699 | −30% |
| AMD RX 7900 XT | $899 | $650 | −28% |
| AMD RX 6800 | $579 | $419 | −28% |
| AMD RX 6600 XT | $379 | $279 | −26% |
The RTX 30-series and RX 6000-series are where the value is. Cards that were impossible to find at MSRP during the 2021 to 2022 shortage now sell for roughly half.
Where the Pain Is: Current-Gen Premiums
| Card | MSRP | Lowest in-stock | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMD RX 6650 XT | $299 | $609 | +104% |
| NVIDIA RTX 4090 | $1,599 | $2,995 | +87% |
| NVIDIA RTX 4080 Super | $999 | $1,423 | +42% |
| AMD RX 9060 XT | $299 | $410 | +37% |
| NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti | $749 | $980 | +31% |
| Intel Arc B580 | $249 | $299 | +20% |
| NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti Super | $799 | $950 | +19% |
The RTX 4090 is the headline story: nearly two years after launch it still sells for ~$1,400 over MSRP, a sign that AI/workstation demand continues to drain consumer supply.
What It Means for Buyers
Smart Moves
- Want value? A discounted RX 6800 XT or RTX 3080 Ti delivers far more performance-per-dollar than any current-gen card at its inflated price
- Set price alerts and pounce on near-MSRP stock
Avoid
- Paying 20% to 30% over MSRP for RTX 50-series unless you can't wait
- Old budget cards (RX 6650 XT, RX 6400) at absurd markups
📈 This is the inaugural snapshot. See how the market moved next month in our June 2026 edition, which adds month-over-month price deltas.
Methodology: lowest in-stock price across tracked retailers per SKU, compared to manufacturer launch MSRP, May 2026. Out-of-stock and “not carried” listings excluded. Full live data and per-card price history at gpudrip.com.
Media use: this data is free to cite with attribution to GPU Drip (gpudrip.com). For the underlying dataset or custom cuts, contact us via the site.
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