Hire Graphics Offers GPU Rental Service in the UK

Many PC enthusiasts upgrade their graphics hardware on a regular basis and accept the inevitable devaluation of high-end products because they feel it’s a small price to pay for the very best gaming experience. This process involves selling an existing card whenever a new architecture arrives on eBay or technology forums. Unfortunately, the eBay route can be stressful due to buyers changing their mind or not having a compatible system and the fees remain quite substantial at around 10%. The alternative option which appears to be discussed more regularly in recent months is based on a subscription model. This allows the end-user to pay a monthly fee for a certain product and change their subscription to access a new graphics card upon launch, without the hassle of selling.

In theory, I think this is a cogent idea and useful for those who don’t like the idea of selling items online. Saying that, the sale value remains pretty good on premium graphics cards providing you gauge the timing right and the funds can cover a large proportion of a new purchase. Recently, I was contacted by a company called Hire Graphics which gives PC gamers in the UK the opportunity to rent a wide range of GPUs such as the GTX 1080 and GTX 1070 instead of going down the traditional purchase route. According to the press release, consumers can hire a graphics card for a period of 12 months during the lease and own the product by making the 13th payment. Additionally, you could simply setup a new subscription and enjoy a faster GPU. On another note, Hire Graphics said they:

“..are hoping to make this an alternative to traditional finance options by offering an Early Upgrade service and providing a loan or replacement card, if the graphics card needs to go off to be repaired. Whereas with traditional finance options you may be left paying for something you physically don’t have in your possession and therefore unable to use. ”

Even though I think there’s room in today’s market for a loan service, the pricing and terms have to be spot on. Unfortunately, Hire Graphics is well below par in both areas. Firstly, they’re asking for a whopping £84.99 per month for the ASUS STRIX GAMING GTX 1080. If that wasn’t bad enough, it seems the company requires a 12-month agreement which comes to a total cost that almost defies belief. To be clear, it’s possible to buy the ASUS STRIX GAMING GTX 1080 from a retailer like Overclockers UK within 7-8 months of the contract. This frankly is absurd and showcases the overpriced nature of each GPU. Currently, the cheapest GTX 1070 is £49.99 per month and I cannot see anyone paying this sort of money.

To summarise, I’m in favour of the business, but it’s been executed poorly. More specifically, it seems so silly that you cannot rent each card on a monthly basis and change to another when a product comes out. Furthermore, it’s actually more expensive to rent a GPU than it is to buy the card outright. This becomes even more of a farce when you consider owning a GPU has an additional revenue stream via the second-hand market which allows you to put a lot of money into a new purchase. Unless the pricing improves, I cannot see this venture being successful at all.