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There are a number of people who don't seem to be aware of the issues facing particularly the computer industry, really thoughout this year, so thought it best to outline with sources what's going on.
This is a WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC.
Most computer components are made in China, and when I say most it's literally 99% of them.
To go back in time a bit.... Wuhan in China was the center of the outbreak which really started affecting them hard back in December last year. They went into full lockdown in January for 3 months.
There was ZERO production during this time.... I'm not talking some or only a little, quite literally they didn't produce anything at all, zilch, nada, nich!
Since then end of that lockdown, China has been in and out of lockdowns across the country, and even when they have been in production, it's with operating restrictions in place so they don't have the full staff quotas they normally would and have to social distance, and a lot of vulnerable aren't able to work because of the risk of death.
Meanwhile, around the rest of the world, but we'll stick in the UK, we went into lockdown from March for almost 3 months. An awful lot of companies have resorted to accepting this was a long term issue and have told staff they'll be remote working from now on with only critical staff having to go into the office, pandemic or not. Also, less travelling and expenses meant that people had a lot of extra cash to throw around at a time when everyone and their dogs required new computers and equipment to facilitate working from home.
www.ey.com
www.theatlantic.com
Component sales in general have been through the roof since march in the UK, and there's no sign of it dropping. Back in March and April, webcams were being sold for thousands of pounds on places like Amazon because they'd all sold out as just one example of stock issues:
So China had a quarter of the year with no production whatsoever, meanwhile demand and sales went through the roof. And I'm afraid China have not caught up to even normal output quotas, let alone to provide for the massive increase in demand.
Forward to now, we have some of the most powerful new CPU and GPU releases in the last 15 years or so. So again, now, not only do we have remote workers buying, but now gamers on top of that, demand is at an all time high, but China can't possibly keep up with the demand, so supplies are low, pre orders are rediculously huge, and most people are in a queue to get their goods.
www.techradar.com
www.tomsguide.com
www.pcgamer.com
www.thestreet.com
But it's not by any means restricted to new releases of GPU's and CPU's only, a lot of other components are now facing stock shortages, largely related to warehouse stocks having dried up due to the lower manufacturing output not filling them up again quick enough:
www.tomshardware.com
www.tomshardware.com
www.pcgamesn.com
And then it's not just manufacturing issues, but logistics problems related to Corona safety measures, issues at border control with having to do corona tests before being allowed entry, stuff like that. So now on top of low production from factories, you've often got shipments being turned away at the ports because there's an infection on board, or a shipment never leaving the dock because they haven't got enough units to fulfill the order, but mainly orders being received are just a part of the overall that was ordered:
www.statista.com
Then in the UK specifically you have to factor in the extra uncertainty of Brexit which finalises at the end of december meaning that haulage and shipping firms are having to meet extra criteria and visa applications to come here:
logistics.org.uk
This means that JIT stock systems just don't work, there's no way to predict what's coming in or when because often, what's promised is not delivered or is delayed without clear dates given for ETA. So when you're saying "PCS need to be more transparent", they literally can't be because they have very little information to pass on.
For an overall clearer picture, computer sales have been on the downturn for years, with more people moving to tablets and mobiles. This year however, it's seen double digit increases which is VERY substantial!
This is going back as far as 2013: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-23251285
This is 2016: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/04/4-charts-that-explain-the-decline-of-the-pc/
This was in 2018: https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/11/g...JMvllBBDpGaiSnjoqGTktSme3rCdOO3BfrKBpfvD9wso1
This is this year: https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS46928320
This is not an issue with PCS, this is a worldwide problem and will be ongoing during covid and likely for a few months after that while the world fights to get back to normal.
Please, have some patience and understanding, don't flood PCS with unnecessary calls about having ordered 20 days ago and not receiving it yet, orders are taking substantially longer than normal. And please please please, don't be calling up every five minutes asking if they've received any GPU or CPU stocks, each one of these calls is adding to the already enormous pressure they're under, and further delaying your build and other peoples.
BUT!!! On the plus side, when you receive your new PC, it’s quite frankly going to blow your socks off. Even if we’re relating to performance of a top tier last generation PC with a 2080ti and i9 10900k, these new builds absolutely destroy them, this really is one of the most incredible times for the computing world, for gaming and productivity.
You will be amazed when you get your shiny beast and slap on that just released AAA game and see ray tracing on full with your new ultrawide monitor!
This is NOT A NORMAL TIME, NOTHING IS NORMAL FOR ANYONE.
We all have to accept that companies are doing their best under very strict Covid related working practices and social distancing along with general supply and manufacturing issues.
There are a number of people who don't seem to be aware of the issues facing particularly the computer industry, really thoughout this year, so thought it best to outline with sources what's going on.
This is a WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC.
Most computer components are made in China, and when I say most it's literally 99% of them.
To go back in time a bit.... Wuhan in China was the center of the outbreak which really started affecting them hard back in December last year. They went into full lockdown in January for 3 months.
There was ZERO production during this time.... I'm not talking some or only a little, quite literally they didn't produce anything at all, zilch, nada, nich!
Since then end of that lockdown, China has been in and out of lockdowns across the country, and even when they have been in production, it's with operating restrictions in place so they don't have the full staff quotas they normally would and have to social distance, and a lot of vulnerable aren't able to work because of the risk of death.
Meanwhile, around the rest of the world, but we'll stick in the UK, we went into lockdown from March for almost 3 months. An awful lot of companies have resorted to accepting this was a long term issue and have told staff they'll be remote working from now on with only critical staff having to go into the office, pandemic or not. Also, less travelling and expenses meant that people had a lot of extra cash to throw around at a time when everyone and their dogs required new computers and equipment to facilitate working from home.
20 Companies Embracing Permanent Remote Work-From-Home Jobs
Looking for a remote job? These companies are committed to permanent remote work—explore their recent work-from-home jobs here.
www.flexjobs.com
Microsoft makes remote work option permanent
The move puts the US tech giant in the company of firms such as Facebook and Twitter.
www.bbc.com
Why remote working will be the new normal, even after COVID-19
What are the challenges of remote working and how should companies address them during COVID-19? And what after the crisis? Is remote working here to stay?
www.ey.com
The Workforce Is About to Change Dramatically
Three predictions for what the future might look like
www.theatlantic.com
Component sales in general have been through the roof since march in the UK, and there's no sign of it dropping. Back in March and April, webcams were being sold for thousands of pounds on places like Amazon because they'd all sold out as just one example of stock issues:
No end to Covid-19 webcam shortage
The video-call boom means that, months into the pandemic, it is still hard to buy many webcam models.
www.bbc.com
So China had a quarter of the year with no production whatsoever, meanwhile demand and sales went through the roof. And I'm afraid China have not caught up to even normal output quotas, let alone to provide for the massive increase in demand.
Forward to now, we have some of the most powerful new CPU and GPU releases in the last 15 years or so. So again, now, not only do we have remote workers buying, but now gamers on top of that, demand is at an all time high, but China can't possibly keep up with the demand, so supplies are low, pre orders are rediculously huge, and most people are in a queue to get their goods.
Nvidia RTX 3070 graphics card delayed due to 'stock issues'
Two-week delay means the GPU will now be out on October 29 as Nvidia tries to sort stock issues
AMD Big Navi stock problems — Asus says you'll have to be fast
Asus rep hints that Big Navi cards may be in short supply
AMD Ryzen 5000 was the 'fastest-selling CPU launch' for one UK retailer
Definitely not a paper launch, then.
Nvidia’s CFO: We’re Working Hard to Keep Up with Record Demand
During a talk with TheStreet that followed Nvidia's earnings report, CFO Colette Kress noted her company is seeing supply constraints for both gaming and data center products.
www.thestreet.com
But it's not by any means restricted to new releases of GPU's and CPU's only, a lot of other components are now facing stock shortages, largely related to warehouse stocks having dried up due to the lower manufacturing output not filling them up again quick enough:
Buy Your Power Supply Now, While Prices Are Still Acceptable
Prices are already high, but there are no signs of stabilization.
Report: Coronavirus Sending Motherboard and GPU Shipments to Record Low
DigiTimes sources claimed motherboard and GPU shipments may not rebound in Q3 as expected.
Gigabyte and Asus can’t manufacture enough AMD motherboards to meet massive Chinese demand
AMD motherboards are undergoing a sudden surge in popularity in China, leading to major shortages from Asus and Gigabyte
www.pcgamesn.com
And then it's not just manufacturing issues, but logistics problems related to Corona safety measures, issues at border control with having to do corona tests before being allowed entry, stuff like that. So now on top of low production from factories, you've often got shipments being turned away at the ports because there's an infection on board, or a shipment never leaving the dock because they haven't got enough units to fulfill the order, but mainly orders being received are just a part of the overall that was ordered:
Topic: Coronavirus: impact on the transportation and logistics industry worldwide
Find the most up-to-date statistics and facts on the impact of coronavirus on the transportation and logistics industry worldwide.
www.statista.com
Then in the UK specifically you have to factor in the extra uncertainty of Brexit which finalises at the end of december meaning that haulage and shipping firms are having to meet extra criteria and visa applications to come here:
Brexit And Logistics - What Happens After The Brexit Vote?
FTA aims this page at those who wish find answers to the logistics questions after brexit such as what will happen to domestic transport legislation?
logistics.org.uk
This means that JIT stock systems just don't work, there's no way to predict what's coming in or when because often, what's promised is not delivered or is delayed without clear dates given for ETA. So when you're saying "PCS need to be more transparent", they literally can't be because they have very little information to pass on.
For an overall clearer picture, computer sales have been on the downturn for years, with more people moving to tablets and mobiles. This year however, it's seen double digit increases which is VERY substantial!
This is going back as far as 2013: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-23251285
This is 2016: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/04/4-charts-that-explain-the-decline-of-the-pc/
This was in 2018: https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/11/g...JMvllBBDpGaiSnjoqGTktSme3rCdOO3BfrKBpfvD9wso1
This is this year: https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS46928320
This is not an issue with PCS, this is a worldwide problem and will be ongoing during covid and likely for a few months after that while the world fights to get back to normal.
Please, have some patience and understanding, don't flood PCS with unnecessary calls about having ordered 20 days ago and not receiving it yet, orders are taking substantially longer than normal. And please please please, don't be calling up every five minutes asking if they've received any GPU or CPU stocks, each one of these calls is adding to the already enormous pressure they're under, and further delaying your build and other peoples.
BUT!!! On the plus side, when you receive your new PC, it’s quite frankly going to blow your socks off. Even if we’re relating to performance of a top tier last generation PC with a 2080ti and i9 10900k, these new builds absolutely destroy them, this really is one of the most incredible times for the computing world, for gaming and productivity.
You will be amazed when you get your shiny beast and slap on that just released AAA game and see ray tracing on full with your new ultrawide monitor!
This is NOT A NORMAL TIME, NOTHING IS NORMAL FOR ANYONE.
We all have to accept that companies are doing their best under very strict Covid related working practices and social distancing along with general supply and manufacturing issues.
Last edited:
My gaming machine just died as well, just before my 2 week break at xmas and all these issues. Arrrh. Oh Well, As the wife says, I can at least play some of my older steam games on the spare pc...