A GPU is the most fashion-sensitive PC part. A new generation can cut last-gen street prices in half in a season — and a crypto boom can temporarily invert the curve. We price working, non-abused cards; heavy mining wear and missing backplates show up in inspection.
Live catalog: 9 graphics cards · offers $50–$350 · average $205 (displayed listings, working-condition quotes).
Typical first-year loss for a working gpu: about 35%. Year two lands near 55%; year three near 72%.
| Time owned | Value lost | On a $1,000 device | Est. on average offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months | −11% | $890 | $182 |
| 6 months | −21% | $790 | $162 |
| 9 months | −29% | $710 | $146 |
| 1 year | −35% | $650 | $133 |
| 1.5 years | −45% | $550 | $113 |
| 2 years | −55% | $450 | $92 |
| 2.5 years | −64% | $360 | $74 |
| 3 years | −72% | $280 | $57 |
| 5 years | −90% | $100 | $21 |
“Est. on average offer” applies the curve to today’s average catalog offer — a sketch of age, not a quote for your serial number.
Why graphics cards lose value
- NVIDIA and AMD set the clock. Announcement plus actual street availability (not just slides) is when used prices move.
- Power connectors, VRAM size, and encoder features create cliffs (a card that cannot do the current creator codec is “old” overnight).
- Mining and 24/7 rendering are mileage. Fans, pads, and VRAM junction temps tell on the card.
What still holds a price
- Current or last-gen mid-range and up, original box optional, both power adapters if the card used them.
- Intact cooler, no bent PCIe slot, BIOS not flashed to a wild mining ROM.
- A short video of the card POSTing helps. We still test.
When to sell
If you already planned to jump generations, sell after street stock of the new cards exists — panic listings on announcement day leave money on the table, but waiting six months after launch usually leaves more.
How this is built
Percentages are category research (resale studies + typical buyback movement), not IRS MACRS. Dollar ranges are live from our displayed graphics cards. Your instant quote still depends on exact model, storage, cosmetic grade, and defects — including account locks.
Sources
- AssetPanda IT asset depreciation guide
- IRS Publication 946 (MACRS 5-year property)
- IRS Publication 946 — computers as 5-year property (accounting contrast, not a street bid).
Instant quote · free prepaid label · paid after inspection.
FAQ
Do you take cards used for mining?
We take working cards. Heavy fan wear, missing pads, or a BIOS that will not return to stock is a defect path, not a flagship offer.
Is it better to sell now or wait for a new model?
Waiting usually costs more than it saves. New launches reset demand for last year’s hardware. If you already plan to replace the device, selling before the announcement typically beats selling after it.