Price of new computers on the rise

[buksida]

New computer models are seeing an uptick in price following the global shortage of semiconductors and a surge in demand for IT devices used for remote work and study, according to IT device distributors.

Somsak Pejthaveeporndej, chief executive of VST ECS Thailand, said the world faces a shortage of components such as integrated circuits used in a broad range of devices, including computers and IT products.

The company's typical inventory for computer products is around 30 days, but since last year, inventory has dropped to 14-15 days, he said.

The shortage emerged in the middle of last year, however the situation is expected to improve by year-end, said Mr Somsak.

This month, new computer products saw an increase in price of 800-2,000 baht, he said.

Takon Niyomthai, head of IT business development at SET-listed IT retail chain Com7, said the shortage of components and computer devices continues.

The shortage includes graphics cards, display panels, memory storage devices and CPUs.

Prices of these components rose by US$30-200 (950 baht to 6,300 baht) depending on products, excluding VGA cards.

"Graphics card prices are fluctuating as the component is also used for cryptocurrency mining," Mr Takon said.

Computer makers are also focused on sending more quality products to Europe and the US rather than Thailand because they can sell products there at higher prices, he said.

In Thailand, the inventory of many entry-level notebooks is short -- only one week -- as demand is strong among local customers.

Though April is usually low season for IT product sales, last month sales of devices were strong despite the third wave as such items were considered necessary for online study by students, said Mr Takon.

"Notebooks, tablets and tailor-made computer desktops have shown strong growth in sales," he said.

"More vaccination sites also means they need more computers for registration and data validation. Computers are also needed by freelancers and new businesses."

Chukkrit Watcharasaksilp, chief of sales and marketing at Advice, said prices of graphics cards, hard disks and entry-level notebooks have surged because of the shortage of components.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/21 ... n-the-rise

[STEVE G]

New computer models are seeing an uptick in price following the global shortage of semiconductors and a surge in demand for IT devices used for remote work and study, according to IT device distributors.

Certainly there was a rise in the price of laptops last year in Europe due to the demand for work and study from home.

[buksida]

From what I've seen, anything IT-related was expensive in Thailand before the shortage - now much more so.

[handdrummer]

Does that mean that the computers, et al, that were in stock before the latest price rise, will increase in price too? (A rhetorical question)

[buksida]

Again I find myself looking for computer hardware and again I'm faced with a huge 'Thailand premium'.

After an AM3+ mainboard and initial research indicates you can't buy them in Thailand any longer. There is a thriving market for used ones with no warranty but they're asking silly prices for something that may not even work when you get it.

Does anyone know of any reliable PC hardware outlets here that actually has any stock and doesn't take the pi$$?

Tried the usual places, Laz, Banana, JIB, Advice, etc - either zero stock or second-hand hardware at new prices.

[Dannie Boy]

I think as was mentioned previously about computers and anything with semi-conductors and the like, have been subject to considerable increases over the past year - it’s a world-wide issue not just Thailand.

This is a bit out of date, but I’m sure there’s still supply problems that have led to price increases.
https://www.windowscentral.com/now-good ... r-pc-parts

[buksida]

Yeah, there is a thriving second-hand market now for PCs and parts in Thailand. I should use the opportunity to offload the room full of components I have here since I can't get the critical ones to build another computer!

You can buy what I'm after in the U.S. brand new for about $50, China even cheaper ... but of course Thailand 'mai mee'.

[buksida]

Chip shortage set to continue ...

Gaming and film industries may see higher GPU prices due to Russian invasion of Ukraine
For the past two years, both the gaming and the filmmaking industries have been impacted by the global shortage in Graphic Processing Units (GPU). With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, that shortage may continue due to both country’s role in producing the raw materials necessary in the manufacturing process.

GPUs are used by both filmmakers and game developers/gamers in their everyday tasks. GPUs are an integral part high-end computers used in building virtual worlds by developers and in the rendering those worlds for gamers and consumers.

In the film industry, GPUs are necessary for the creation of visual effects and CGI. The development of volume stages, virtual LED lit studios used in production of films and series such as the Mandalorian, has also increased the dependence of the industry to the GPU market.

For the past two years, the market has seen a shortage of units with GPU prices climbing as high as 300 per cent in the Q3 2021. The shortages were fueled in part by the US-China trade war that dominated headlines prior the pandemic and the explosion of cryptocurrency mining, which also utilizes GPUs in the mining process, over the last two years.

Market analysts at Bloomberg and TechCrunch predicted that the GPU shortage crisis would ease in 2022 with manufacturing picking up again in China, the ban of cryptocurrency farming by Beijing, and the introduction of cryptocurrency-specific GPUs all easing the burden that had been felt on the market.

https://www.thaienquirer.com/38346/gami ... f-ukraine/

[buksida]

Computer shortage looming
Thailand's computer market risks a shortage by the middle of this year while slower demand can be expected because of the sluggish economy, according to IT distributor Advice.

Chukkrit Watcharasaksilp, chief of sales and marketing at Advice, said a shortage is likely in May to June if the fresh Covid lockdowns in China hobble producers.

The company has enough inventory for 2-3 months, he said.

Most retailers completed advance orders last year and the products have been shifted to Thailand, said Mr Chukkrit.

He indicated the growth of IT product sales is expected to be slower than last year due to economic woes and many users have crucially bought IT products over the past two years.

"If the lockdown in China prolongs, plus the weaker baht and protracted Russian-Ukraine war, we are likely to see a rise in computer prices around the middle of this year," he said.

According to him, popular computer notebooks are in the range of 18,000-19,000 baht while popular gaming computers range from 25,900-40,000 baht.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/22 ... ge-looming

[handdrummer]

Have you seen the articles about google's new Chrome program for old computers? It's a free download and basically turns your old computer into a Chromebook.

[Nereus]

Have you seen the articles about google's new Chrome program for old computers? It's a free download and basically turns your old computer into a Chromebook.

Yes, it use's aluminium foil wrapped around it so it looks like chrome.

[handdrummer]

Have you seen the articles about google's new Chrome program for old computers? It's a free download and basically turns your old computer into a Chromebook.

Yes, it use's aluminium foil wrapped around it so it looks like chrome.

That's a step up from plastic wrap.

[buksida]

Nvidia Game Card Prices Fall Along With Crypto Mining Demand
The turmoil in the cryptocurrency industry has ravaged portfolios and left large and small investors struggling to adapt. It’s also taken a toll on a corner of the tech world that once benefited from crypto’s rise: Nvidia Corp. graphics cards.

Long popular with computer gaming nerds, these cards enjoyed a second life during the crypto boom as an essential component of the systems that generate digital coins. Even as Nvidia tried to limit its exposure to the industry, the crypto rally had helped send prices of the company’s products soaring on secondary markets like EBay.

Now that’s changed. With the value of currencies plummeting, miners see less of a need for expensive computer hardware. Their interest is expected to dwindle further as the popular Ethereum blockchain network shifts to a new method called “proof of stake” that won’t require the same heavy-duty computer processing.

By one estimate, more than a third of the consumer graphics-card market could vanish as crypto enthusiasts abandon the technology. And the products are piling up on EBay’s site and other marketplaces. Though Nvidia’s suggested retail price for the cards hasn’t changed, they’re selling for 50% less on secondary markets than they did in recent months.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... f=323RPL5z

Prices in Thailand are still off the chart as usual.

[buksida]

Can confirm that computer hardware is still ridiculously expensive in Thailand.

Just spent a week looking for new hardware in Seacon Square and Fortune Town and it is scary what is being charged. A used graphics card costs the same as a new one of the same spec would have four years ago. There is very little under five figures for anything new and recent. The only thing that has come down in price are memory (RAM) modules.

Laptops are now more expensive for the same specs and the Lenovo I bought less than two years ago has actually increased by 25% for the identical model today.

Its either the usual Thailand premium on items ... or a worldwide phenomenon (covid lockdowns, chip shortages, supply disruptions???)

On the flip side, you'd think that the explosion in smartphones and tablets would have affected the PC market and demand would be down with surplus hardware. It certainly appears that way from the big empty computer supermarkets in Bangkok such as JiB, Banana IT, Advice, IT City, etc. Or maybe the average Thai computer user or gamer can't afford tens of thousands of baht for kit anymore.

Hold on to your old hardware or prepare to dig deep if you want anything new of a reasonable specification.

[Dannie Boy]

I’m currently in the UK and was considering buying a new laptop - my current one was a top of the range HP Spectre 360 bought in 2017 which at the time had 8GB RAM and a 512 GB SSD HD and an i7 processor, but 7th generation so it can’t be upgraded to Windows 11, but other than that, the only real problem was that the battery was knackered and had to be plugged in to use it. I managed to find a replacement battery on Amazon for less than £40 and fitted it myself so now it’s fine. A similar spec replacement these days is well over £1,000 and for what I need, no real benefit so I’m very happy now.