Nvidia RTX 3060: release time and tips to purchase

The Nvidia RTX 3060 is releasing today, Thursday, Feb. 25, on a variety of sites. While the stated launch time is 9 a.m. Pacific Standard Time or 12 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, many sites have delayed the release time.

Nvidia has stated that the starting retail price for the RTX 3060 will be $329. However, many retail sites, like BestBuy, have listed them ranging from $389 and $499 to $629. Other platforms have opted for a raffle format to fight against those using automated software to purchase these highly desired graphics cards as well.

BestBuy RTX 3060 links:

NewEgg RTX 3060 links:

Product Shuffle (Raffle)

The cards should also be available on other sites for those in the United States. These include Amazon, NewEgg, Nvidia and Adorama.

Why is the Nvidia RTX 3060 selling for double?

Even though this upcoming GPU is the cheapest iteration of the RTX 30 series, those interested in grabbing the card should still be aware that it is limited in supply and high in demand. Prices have been skyrocketing on the secondhand market due to several factors. These reasons include shortages in the semiconductor space and supply chain issues across the world due to the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic. Tariffs increasing prices for graphics cards by 25% have also resulted in prices skyrocketing on the secondhand market.

In addition, the recent rise of prices for cryptocurrencies has led to an even greater appetite for these graphics cards. These are just as efficient in solving complex algorithms as they are in rendering your favorite video game. Despite Nvidia releasing a statement that the RTX 3060 cards would limit hashing power with driver protections to detect mining behavior for Ethereum, many in the community have discovered that this solution can easily be bypassed if one decides to go for another coin instead.

Nevertheless, it looks as though the scarcity problem will not be going away any time soon; even GPUs that are several years old becoming harder to purchase.