Crypto-miners are probably to blame for the graphics-chip shortage
Secondhand graphics-card prices move nearly in lockstep with those of Ethereum
THE PAST year has been rough for gamers. Just as covid-19 brought in-person entertainment to a halt, the cost of graphics processing units (GPUs) needed to run computer games soared. Graphics cards like Nvidia’s RTX 3080, with a suggested price of $699, have fetched up to $2,400. When bricks-and-mortar stores get a few in stock, buyers queue up overnight.
This article appeared in the Graphic detail section of the print edition under the headline “Pay to play”
From the June 19th 2021 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Graphic detail
A short history of Syria, in maps
The most influential people, groups and events that shaped Syria’s role in the Middle East
Is Javier Milei’s economic gamble working?
Inflation has plunged in Argentina, but some vital goods have soared in price
How to make sense of 2024’s wild temperatures
Our climate team highlight four charts and two maps
What New York’s congestion charge could teach the rest of America
Lighter traffic in some parts of the city is a promising start. Will it continue?
The secret to one of Europe’s best-performing stockmarkets
Its economy is mired in gloom, but its stock exchange is the envy of Europe
Drones spotted on America’s east coast highlight a bigger problem
Unidentified objects can be dangerous, but not in the ways you might think