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Does anyone know when graphics cards will be available at sane prices for people who actually want to use them one (or two max) at a time to render graphics?

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The bad news is that a lot of system builders like us (we build pre-built systems pre-installed with Deep Learning software http://lambdalabs.com) are now used to paying more than MSRP for our GPUs. MSRP for a 1080Ti is supposed to be $699. They haven't been available even in large bulk purchases at that price for a while now. I don't see it going back down any time soon.

It's really hard to come up with a timeline, but I'd say the worst has passed. It will take time to recover inventory, but the alt-coin market (basically, not-Bitcoin cryptocurrencies) has died down a lot and the rush to acquire mining capital has likely diminished.

6 months to a year, maybe?

Let's hope the deep learning craze doesn't pick up pace.

Yeah, it should be getting better soon. Especially since ETH is now 1/3 what it was in Jan ($458.42 at the moment, $1350+ in Jan).

As long as the prices don't rally again!

Keep an eye on the used graphics card market. If we see a burst / die down the market should be flooded with excess high end cards

I am not sure I would pay too much for card that had been run flat-out for months in a rusting hangar with standing water, though.

Run flat out but undervolted because you get better electrical efficiency.

I'd take that.

But with a used card, you have no way of knowing if it was indeed run that way.

If Ethereum does move over to proof-of-stake, then the market will be flooded with 1080Tis. I expect the DeepLearning11 server will then be a goldmine for DL researchers - cheap as chips.

Can't wait. Fingers crossed.

I can't say when, but you might be happy to know that graphics card availability has been improving throughout March, albeit at expensive, but no longer insane prices. I was monitoring availability of various AMD and Nvidia cards since January (using nowinstock.com): previously cards would be available for a few hours at a time at an outlet - now we're up to weeks and the prices have been going down a bit - they are still above MRSP. The the ongoing cryptocoin downward spiral persists for a few more months, GPU prices ought to come down.

Almost all of the Nvidia GTX cards are back in stock on Amazon (for Prime shipping) and are relatively close to MSRP. (Edit: You will still have to sort through overpriced ones)

Yeah depends on what you mean by close. I see the cheapest 1080ti at newegg right now for $909. Bought mine a year ago (founders edition) for $699. It is getting better but we are still far away from sanity. IMHO this (year old) card should sell today for ~$500 if things were to be normal.

I bought a GTX 1060 3GB in November 2016 for $165. The cheapest right now is $275. There is a long way to go for full recovery.

People are saying that prebuilt PCs include graphics cards at MSRP.

If you mean Volta at a sane price, they didn't announce it today so it may be a while.

You'll probably be able to pick up a 2080 for a reasonable price when it comes out, which should be soon.

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