Are GPU's Running in Place?
GPU's (graphics processing units, a specialized microprocessor for video data, often found on video cards) have not shown a great deal of improvement over the course of 2023. One may wonder whether the long-prophesied failure of Moore's Law is upon us.
On the other hand, we have seen some non-obvious improvements, most importantly in energy consumption. This may not be that important for a gamer running a single PC, but for a commercial render farm that's turning out graphics wholesale, it can really add up.
That said, export controls are becoming a major factor in the pricing of top-end graphics cards. When restrictions were announced on how many graphics cards China could buy, Chinese buyers hurried to buy as many as possible before the restrictions went into effect -- and NVIDIA grabbed the opportunity, selling so many that fewer were left for US buyers, so that prices spiked. However, they'll probably drop again after the restrictions go into effect and more of the new year's production will be available for US buyers.
On the other hand, we have seen some non-obvious improvements, most importantly in energy consumption. This may not be that important for a gamer running a single PC, but for a commercial render farm that's turning out graphics wholesale, it can really add up.
That said, export controls are becoming a major factor in the pricing of top-end graphics cards. When restrictions were announced on how many graphics cards China could buy, Chinese buyers hurried to buy as many as possible before the restrictions went into effect -- and NVIDIA grabbed the opportunity, selling so many that fewer were left for US buyers, so that prices spiked. However, they'll probably drop again after the restrictions go into effect and more of the new year's production will be available for US buyers.