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Funny that in this image in the article: https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/bare_shelves-1-640x378.png https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-conte

Funny that in this image in the article: https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/bare_shelves-1-640x378.png https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/bare_... The entire shelf is sold out of GPUs, but it's a near-lock that the RX550 2GB model for $71.xx had a higher ROI than any single card purchased for cryptocurrency mining. Now, that being said, gamers (and to a lesser extent, deep learning researchers) need to shut up and enjoy a good thing while it lasts. Gamers who have 1080tis (who don't get close to their maximum performance, nor need it) just walked into a situation where they can print money for owning equipment they already have or would already buy - in their spare time when they aren't gaming. It's very odd to watch a group of people bitch that they are handed a bunch of free money, but gamers manage to do it.

ulrikrasmussen 9y ago
That is in my opinion an overly simplistic way of looking at it. First of all, many people (myself included) would not want to have to burn electricity in order to offset the increased price. Even if you disregard the obvious environmental reasons, people sleeping close to their computers simply do not have the choice of leaving it running 24/7 unless they want to have vivid dreams about vacuum cleaners every night. Second, even if the higher prices can be evened out in the long run from mining, this forces people to pay more money up-front in both hardware and electricity. Buying gaming equipment suddenly became an investment.
jakebasile 9y ago
> gamers [...] need to shut up and enjoy a good thing while it lasts. I don't consider what is happening to be good. I don't think cryptocurrencies are a positive change for the world at large nor for gaming in particular. I don't want to make money off of my hobby, I want it to be my hobby. > It's very odd to watch a group of people bitch that they are handed a bunch of free money, but gamers manage to do it. Gamers are being handed insanely inflated prices for hardware, and many of us don't want to deal with the crypto bubble - we just want to game. I'd flip this on its end. Miners and AI enthusiasts really should be thanking gamers - we've put up the money that allowed GPU research to reach the point it's at today.

ulrikrasmussen 9y ago

That is in my opinion an overly simplistic way of looking at it. First of all, many people (myself included) would not want to have to burn electricity in order to offset the increased price. Even if you disregard the obvious environmental reasons, people sleeping close to their computers simply do not have the choice of leaving it running 24/7 unless they want to have vivid dreams about vacuum cleaners every night. Second, even if the higher prices can be evened out in the long run from mining, this forces people to pay more money up-front in both hardware and electricity. Buying gaming equipment suddenly became an investment.

jakebasile 9y ago

> gamers [...] need to shut up and enjoy a good thing while it lasts. I don't consider what is happening to be good. I don't think cryptocurrencies are a positive change for the world at large nor for gaming in particular. I don't want to make money off of my hobby, I want it to be my hobby. > It's very odd to watch a group of people bitch that they are handed a bunch of free money, but gamers manage to do it. Gamers are being handed insanely inflated prices for hardware, and many of us don't want to deal with the crypto bubble - we just want to game. I'd flip this on its end. Miners and AI enthusiasts really should be thanking gamers - we've put up the money that allowed GPU research to reach the point it's at today.