AMD’s 9000-series GPU launch was mostly dubbed “successful,” but largely because only a small fraction of buyers managed to secure cards at MSRP. Despite decent supply, recent batches have seen retail prices climb above MSRP, and even then, consumers in some regions are now facing month-long wait times.
AIBs Selling Radeon RX 9070 XT At Inflated Prices As Stock Drops In Certain Regions
After NVIDIA’s infamous supply fiasco for its Blackwell lineup, where inventory was deliberately “suppressed” to create the illusion of high demand, AMD’s RDNA4 launch was naturally compared to its biggest competitor in the retail space.
But, just a day after launch, it started to seem like AMD might have played a similar game. While the initial stock sold out quickly (as expected), subsequent batches came with noticeable price hikes, not just 5–10%, but premium AIB variants inflated by as much as 20%. This was enough to convince some buyers that the original launch pricing was little more than a placeholder.
AMD stated on Friday that it is working with AIBs to improve stock levels. However, at this point, getting a 9070 XT at MSRP is nearly impossible in some regions. A report from @unikoshardware states that retailers in Thailand are facing limited stock, with wait times being extended until April.
The specific incident in question mentions a user buying the PowerColor 9070 XT Red Devil, which is currently listed for $799 ($200 above MSRP), being out of stock, and paid orders being delayed for another 40 or so days.
Another Paper Launch?
While critics were quick to compare AMD’s approach to NVIDIA’s, it’s important to note that stock availability wasn’t the real issue for either company. NVIDIA merely played with “scarcity marketing” to create an illusion of a higher demand-to-supply ratio. Meanwhile, AMD appears to have strategically lowered the MSRP just before launch to position itself competitively, only to maintain a high actual selling price.
That said, if comparisons are to be made, AMD’s Day One sales outperformed the entire GeForce 50 series combined, including RTX 5070 stock. However, it remains to be seen how things pan out. Many buyers were initially drawn to AMD’s “perceived” performance-to-value advantage, but that seems to have later faded away with inflated prices and ongoing stock shortages.
