Gamers looking to get their hands on a GPU have been hard pressed to grab the hardware since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, Chinese power restrictions may also be contributing to difficulties in finding a GPU.
Recently, China announced its crackdown on cryptocurrency mining. Many gamers speculated that would actually lead to increased GPU availability. But now, it seems that there is another hurdle to overcome in search of the coveted PC component. The crackdown will inevitably be beneficial to gamers in the future, but the Chinese government recently made another decision that may hamper PC enthusiasts in the present.
The Chinese government recently mandated temporary industrial power output limitations. The purpose of the mandate was actually meant to reduce the country’s emissions. While that was certainly a noble cause, it has ramifications throughout the gaming space. It takes a lot of power to produce high-end electronics. Tech manufacturers such as AMD and Nvidia are supplied parts for their GPUs by Chinese companies which are no doubt going to see a massive decline in production. Even Intel's new GPU line will most likely be hit hard.
TSMC and UMC are companies that supply GPU giants, and the companies have reportedly “been given a pass by local authorities.” While TSMC and UMC will continue producing as much as they are allowed, the companies that supply them are not so fortunate under the new mandate. In particular, it seems that semiconductor supplies or lack thereof will be the technological sticking point moving forward.
Essentially, this means that the GPU shortage is going to continue well into the future. Currently, it is impossible to predict how long the shortage will continue. There is hope that the power mandate could be less impactful than it initially seems. Unfortunately, the effects the mandate will have on manufacturers “aren’t yet quantifiable.” But that does leave room for hope. Gamers the world over just want to see a return to normalcy, and that day is coming eventually. Even now, Nvidia has a strategy for GPU shortages that it hopes will aid in the company's current situation.
At this time, it is hard to tell exactly how the power mandate will affect the flow of electronics in the coming months and even the coming years. But as the world returns to normal, it is reasonable to assume that manufacturers will find ways to innovate and get their products out to the masses. While there may still be some short-term shortages, the long-term is still promising. Companies will figure out how to get the best GPUs on the market into the hands of customers. It just might be a while.
Source: PCGamesN