TL;DR: The best GPU deals for local AI right now are the RTX 4070 Ti Super (used, ~$550–650), the RTX 3090 (used, ~$720–850), and the Arc B580 (new, ~$249). Avoid the RTX 5090 at current street prices — it's 2x MSRP. The 5070 Ti is close to MSRP and worth it if you want new hardware.
GPU prices in March 2026 are moving fast. The Nvidia RTX 50-series launch pushed used 40-series prices down and created a window where last-gen cards offer real value for local AI builders.
This tracker covers the GPUs worth buying for local LLM work — cards with enough VRAM and bandwidth to run useful models. Updated with real transaction data from eBay sold listings, not active asking prices.
The Best Buys Right Now
These are the GPUs offering the best VRAM-per-dollar and bandwidth-per-dollar right now:
1. RTX 4070 Ti Super (used) — Best value mid-tier
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 672 GB/s
- Used price: $550–650 (eBay sold listings)
- The 40-series selloff has pushed this card below what it's worth. 672 GB/s handles 7B–14B models well. If you can find one under $600, it's a steal.
2. Intel Arc B580 (new) — Best budget option
- VRAM: 12GB GDDR6
- Bandwidth: 456 GB/s
- New price: $249–299
- The only sub-$300 card worth considering for local AI. 12GB VRAM runs 7B models cleanly and fits some 14B models at lower quantizations. Intel's driver support has improved substantially. Not as fast as Nvidia on inference, but functional at the price.
3. RTX 3090 (used) — Best for large models
- VRAM: 24GB GDDR6X
- Bandwidth: 936 GB/s
- Used price: $720–850 (eBay sold listings)
- The 3090 is still the best value path to 24GB VRAM. At Q4_K_M, you can run 30B+ models on a single card. Speed is competitive with newer mid-range cards. Older architecture but the VRAM headroom matters more for most use cases.
4. RTX 5070 Ti (new) — Best new-gen card
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR7
- Bandwidth: 896 GB/s
- New price: $800–950 (above MSRP at launch, settling)
- MSRP is $749. If you find it at or near MSRP, it's the best new card for 16GB use cases. At $900+, compare against a used 3090 for 24GB options.
5. RTX 4060 Ti 16GB (used) — Budget 16GB option
- VRAM: 16GB GDDR6
- Bandwidth: 288 GB/s
- Used price: $330–380
- The bandwidth is low — 3x slower than the 5070 Ti — so generation speed will feel sluggish on 14B models. Acceptable for someone on a tight budget who uses AI occasionally. Not for heavy daily use.
What's Overpriced Right Now
RTX 5090 — Skip at current street prices
- MSRP: $1,999
- Current street price: $3,800–4,500
- The 5090 is an exceptional card — 32GB GDDR7, 1,792 GB/s bandwidth. But at 2x MSRP, the math doesn't work. Wait for prices to normalize or buy something else.
RTX 4090 (new/like-new) — Overvalued
- MSRP: $1,599
- Current street price: $2,500–2,800 new
- The 4090 is worth ~$1,800–2,000 used for local AI work. Above that, the RTX 5080 at MSRP or a well-priced 5070 Ti makes more sense.
RTX 3080 10GB — VRAM cliff
- Used price: $280–350
- The 10GB of VRAM is the problem. Modern 7B models at Q4_K_M push against that ceiling. Spend the extra $50-100 to get a 12GB card minimum.
How to Find Real Prices
Retail sites show MSRP or inflated new prices. For actual market value:
- eBay sold listings: Filter completed sales by "Sold Items" — this shows what cards actually transacted for, not wishful asking prices. Active listings run 20–40% higher.
- /r/hardwareswap: Peer-to-peer sales, often better prices than eBay. Slower to find what you want.
- Facebook Marketplace: Surprisingly good for local GPU deals. Lower fees mean lower prices. Meet in a public place.
- Newegg and B&H: Best for new cards. Check for shell eggs and Combo deals on Newegg for occasional discounts.
Trend to Watch: 40-Series Selloff
The RTX 40-series is in a price correction right now as 50-series stock builds up. Cards like the 4070 Ti, 4080, and 4070 Ti Super have dropped 20–30% over the past 60 days. This correction may continue as more 50-series inventory arrives through Q2 2026.
If you're buying a 40-series card, now is a better time than 6 months ago. If you're selling, now is not the time unless you need cash.
VRAM Price Breakdown
A useful way to compare cards is cost per GB of VRAM:
- Arc B580: $249 for 12GB = ~$21/GB
- RTX 3060 12GB (used): ~$180 for 12GB = ~$15/GB
- RTX 3090 (used): ~$800 for 24GB = ~$33/GB
- RTX 4070 Ti Super (used): ~$600 for 16GB = ~$37/GB
- RTX 5070 Ti (new at MSRP): $749 for 16GB = ~$47/GB
- RTX 4090 (used): ~$2,200 for 24GB = ~$92/GB
Raw cost-per-GB doesn't tell the full story — bandwidth matters as much as capacity — but it's a useful sanity check when comparing options.
The Simple Decision Guide
Running 7B models, budget under $300: Arc B580 or RTX 3060 12GB used
Running 7B–14B models, budget $400–700: RTX 4070 Ti Super used or RTX 4060 Ti 16GB used
Running 14B–30B models, budget $700–900: RTX 3090 used
Running 14B+ models, want new hardware: RTX 5070 Ti at or near MSRP
Running 30B+ models with no compromise: RTX 4090 used or wait for RTX 5090 prices to normalize