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Worst First Build - How to Get a Free GPU During the World's Worst GPU Shortage Ever 2021-03-25 post
Hardware

Originally posted on my old blog

The Great GPU Shortage continues to smash records. We live in ludicrous times indeed, where it's considered lucky to win a lottery to buy a $330 GPU... at a $200 markup! The barometer of Bitcoin and Ethereum prices continues to skyrocket, and my chances of finally getting a GPU and finishing my build were dimming every day with no end in sight.

But finish my build I did, with a GPU that ended up costing a grand total of... $0. (OK, maybe a dollar for the gas I used, but it was basically free.) How'd I do it? It's actually surprising simple.

Easy free GPU

  1. Join a Discord with people in your area. (I normally don't recommend Discord since it's a privacy nightmare, but welp, network effects!)

  2. Socialize with the other people so no one thinks you're a bot.

  3. Ask if anyone is getting rid of old graphics cards.

  4. Follow up any offers with DMs.

  5. Profit?

Yep, do these five simple steps and you'll have free GPU in no time!

There are a few gotchas though... you'll only get cards that "cost less than a pizza and a pizza runs faster graphics than this card". Also, the other person wasn't even sure if the card worked or not, but I lucked out and it worked perfectly.