Nvidia's latest RTX 4080 SUPER graphics card has seemingly flown off the shelves, with uncertainty looming over whether its scarcity is driven by high demand or limited initial stock.
The RTX 4080 SUPER was unveiled at CES 2024, alongside Nvidia's other 40 SUPER Series graphics cards. The lineup featured three GPUs, with the 4080 SUPER being the most potent and priciest among them. Although the card offers only a marginal improvement over the original 4080 (approximately 3-5% faster), it comes at a reduced MSRP of $999, making it a tempting choice. Despite the 4080's already robust performance, the 4080 SUPER garnered positive reviews. However, acquiring one in the near future may be a challenge.
According to VideoCardz, the RTX 4080 SUPER is out of stock at all major online US retailers. Nevertheless, it can still be obtained through in-store pickup at select Best Buy and Micro Center outlets, albeit likely at a premium above the $999 MSRP due to their custom nature. In contrast, Nvidia's other new 40 Series refresh cards, the RTX 4070 SUPER and RTX 4070 TI SUPER, are readily available. The reasons behind the RTX 4080 SUPER's rapid depletion in stock remain unclear, whether it be high demand, resource prioritization for the more budget-friendly cards, or a combination of both.
Nvidia's RTX 4080 SUPER Graphics Card Is Mostly Sold Out
- Sold out at all major online US retailers
- Custom 4080 SUPERs can be purchased through in-store pickup at certain Best Buy and Micro Center locations for above MSRP
Recently, Nvidia's high-end graphics cards have often sold at exorbitant prices, such as ASUS' ROG MATRIX RTX 4090, initially released at a $3,199 MSRP before soaring to over $8,000 in China. The RTX 4080 SUPER's comparatively reasonable price of $999 may have spurred considerable demand for this high-end card, particularly following the original RTX 4080's debut at a $1,199 price point.
Alternatively, Nvidia may have directed more resources towards the RTX 4070 SUPER and RTX 4070 TI SUPER, which offer more substantial improvements over their non-SUPER counterparts and are notably more affordable at $599 and $799, respectively. This price range caters to a larger segment of gamers, potentially justifying Nvidia's decision to prioritize stock for these products. Speculatively, the combination of increased demand for high-end graphics cards due to recent price hikes and the prioritization of more budget-friendly options may have led to the swift depletion of the RTX 4080 SUPER. However, this remains speculative.
While some fortunate gamers received their preordered RTX SUPER GPUs days before the official release, those planning to purchase the RTX 4080 SUPER this week will likely face a wait.