GPU Prices Are Climbing Fast
NVIDIA RTX 50 series graphics cards have become significantly more expensive in South Korea. According to data collected from the Korean price comparison site Danawa, prices across the lineup have risen by an average of 30% in just a few days, with some models seeing increases of up to 50%.
The price hikes come as multiple factors converge: rising TSMC wafer costs, surging GDDR7 memory prices, and ongoing supply chain pressures. Industry sources confirm that NVIDIA has raised its GPU package prices to partners, who are passing the costs on to consumers.
NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti Leads the Surge
The most dramatic increases affect the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti. The GIGABYTE RTX 5060 Ti 8GB EAGLE MAX OC jumped from ₩472,500 to ₩706,120—a 49.4% increase. The MSI RTX 5060 Ti 16GB VENTUS 2X PLUS OC rose even higher, from ₩740,860 to ₩1,109,280, a 49.7% spike.
Other models have also seen substantial hikes:
| Model | Increase |
|---|---|
| GIGABYTE RTX 5060 WINDFORCE MAX OC | +37.2% |
| GIGABYTE RTX 5070 Ti WINDFORCE SFF OC | +34.9% |
| GIGABYTE RTX 5080 GAMING OC | +30.3% |
| GIGABYTE RTX 5050 WINDFORCE OC | +21.6% |
| ASUS RTX 5090 ROG ASTRAL OC | +3.0% |
The NVIDIA RTX 5090 recorded the smallest percentage increase, though its price was already above ₩7.2 million (approximately $5,100) before the hike.
What’s Driving the Price Hikes?
Two key factors are behind the increases:
GDDR7 memory costs: The GDDR7 2GB memory modules used in NVIDIA RTX 50 series GPUs have climbed to around $20 per chip. With AI servers consuming vast quantities of HBM memory, production capacity for GDDR memory has been squeezed, driving prices higher.
TSMC wafer price increases: TSMC notified clients in July that it would raise prices on 3nm, 5nm, and 7nm processes by 5% to 10%. This cost is passed through the supply chain, ultimately reaching consumers.
Korean importers and distributors have confirmed that major GPU brands plan to raise NVIDIA RTX 50 series prices by up to 30% from August. One graphics card manufacturer executive noted that “major brands have suspended shipments ahead of the August price increases”.
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Danawa Listings Can Change Quickly
These prices represent a snapshot and do not reflect the entire South Korean GPU market. Danawa often hosts multiple listings for the same card depending on the distributor, warranty, and retailer. Prices can shift rapidly when the cheapest seller runs out of stock or removes its offer. Some cards have already moved away from the early-August prices quoted, though the overall trend points to higher prices across the NVIDIA RTX 50 series.
For South Korean gamers and PC builders, the message is clear: GPUs are getting more expensive, and the trend shows no immediate sign of reversing.
Source: harukaze5719, danawa