The new AMD Radeon RX 9070 graphics cards promised great performance at a reasonable price. However, finding these cards at their suggested retail price (MSRP) is proving difficult. Retailers and AMD's partners (called AIBs) are raising prices, leaving gamers frustrated.The RX 9070 and 9070 XT were supposed to launch at $549 and $599 respectively. But many stores are listing them for much higher. For example, some RX 9070 XT cards are selling for over $700, according to reports from Wccftech and TechRadar. This makes it hard for people to buy the cards at the price AMD intended.Why are prices going up? One reason is competition. NVIDIA's RTX 5070 is a rival card in the same price range. If the RTX 5070 performs well, retailers might raise RX 9070 prices to match. Another factor is simple supply and demand. If there aren't enough cards to meet demand, prices can increase.AMD is trying to address this issue with rebates. They're offering money back to retailers and AIBs who sell the cards closer to MSRP. This encourages them to keep prices down. However, some retailers see these rebate requirements as too strict, according to Wccftech. It's a bit like a game of tug-of-war between AMD and the retailers.What does this mean for you? If you're looking for an RX 9070, be prepared to shop around and compare prices. Don't just buy the first card you see. It might take some time to find one at a reasonable price. You can check websites like Tom's Hardware to compare prices from different retailers.Looking ahead, it's unclear how long these pricing issues will last. If AMD can successfully manage its rebate program, prices might stabilize. However, if demand remains high and competition stays fierce, prices could remain inflated. It's a situation worth watching closely if you're in the market for a new graphics card.
