GPUs, used for graphics and increasingly for AI compute, reversed course after
an 11-trading-day rally that was sparked by overseas shutdown rumours. Since
Oct. 28, prices have fallen sharply: the RTX 5080 slid from nearly 20,000 yuan
to about 16,000 yuan, a roughly 20% drop. Vendors say distributors and retailers
had pre-stocked inventory, amplifying price swings and producing significant
intra-day volatility. Despite the correction, average retail prices for the RTX
50 series remain about 1.7x MSRP, leaving earlier gains largely intact.
Huaqiangbei price moves have drawn overseas buyers; visits and cross-border
procurement for GPUs and memory have intensified, with one merchant saying
foreign customers made up over 50% of October sales.
