The sharp increase in demand for personal electronics caused by the pandemic created a worldwide semiconductor shortage.
The shortage is now wreaking havoc in many industries, including the automotive and electronics industries as detailed in this article by Kif Leswig for CNBC.
What are semiconductors?
A semiconductor chip is an electric circuit with many components such as transistors and wiring formed on a semiconductor wafer.
An electronic device comprised of numerous semiconductor chips is called “integrated circuit (IC)”. They are an essential part of the electronic devices that we use in our daily lives.
What does this mean for you?
Being such an integral part of all electronic devices, the semiconductor shortage is causing lengthy delays for many products, including Sony's PS5.
More importantly for you, it affects the creative industry as a whole. Many high-performance CPUs and GPUs are impossible to find, and delays are expected to continue into the summer months.
If you, like many other creatives, rely on powerful computers to get through your projects, then you'll have some trouble finding the latest cards and tech at this time.
Our VFX Tips:
1 | Plan Accordingly
If you have upcoming projects you're currently planning, it would be a good idea to allow yourself some breathing room when setting deadlines. It'll be a few months before the shortage is resolved.
2 | Maintain Current Machines
If you have current projects with hard deadlines already set, then it's important to maintain your machine in good condition. Here is our article on cleaning your machine at home. If your machine stops working, then it'll be difficult to replace at this time.
3 | Subscribe or Rent New Hardware
Whether you need to meet a current deadline or have upcoming projects to prepare for, it might be a good idea to consider hardware subscription or rental options.
If you're lucky enough to find the graphics card you need or the right workstation for a project, then you're in for a shock. Because of the high demand for these items and the current shortage, prices have skyrocketed.
We recommend choosing a subscription or rental for any hardware you need in order to avoid overpaying for items. When supply chain issues get resolved, prices will drop back down to normal, so if you can, withhold from an actual purchase at this time.
This cost effective option allows you to save your hard-earned money while the shortage is addressed in the upcoming months.
There are many options for renting out there, including our very own. We recently helped a customer meet their deadline by leveraging our cloud services for GPU rendering. We also offer a hardware subscription option for those of you that prefer to work off your own workstation.
Regardless of where you rent, we hope the shortage doesn't negatively affect your work. We'll continue updating you on the status of the shortage and any other recommendations we may have. Stay tuned!