Graphics Processing Units (GPU) are at the core of Computer Graphics research. Research labs feel compelled to frequently update their hardware, as new GPUs increase the performance of existing methods and as they enable new algorithmic possibilities. And while the wider public does not have access to costly, high-performance hardware, the hegemonic assumption of Graphics researchers is that large-scale tech-hardware renewal is inevitable. We want to question the performative nature of this assumption: aren’t we – researchers in Graphics – contributing factors driving the renewal of users’ hardware? While we strive to develop more realistic, controllable, and fast ways to create digital content over the years, what material substrate do we depend on and what are the consequences of that dependency?