A global shortage of memory chips is reportedly forcing Nvidia to prioritize production of its higher-end GeForce RTX 50-series graphics cards,potentially limiting availability and increasing prices for mainstream models. Initial reports suggest the company is favoring cards with higher profit margins and those utilizing newer, more readily available memory technologies. The moves come as consumers and manufacturers alike navigate ongoing supply chain challenges within the PC hardware sector, impacting both gamers and content creators[[1]].
The ongoing shortage of memory chips is poised to impact not only hardware prices but also product availability. Recent speculation suggests Nvidia may halt or temporarily suspend production of certain gaming cards, prioritizing other models.
The initial reports came from Hong Kong-based HKEPC, which claims higher-end cards and those with lower memory capacity will take precedence. When models share the same VRAM capacity, those with higher performance – and therefore margins – will be manufactured first.
This prioritization could lead to reduced production of the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5070 Ti, as the expensive 16GB GDDR7 chips are better suited for the GeForce RTX 5080. Production of the RTX 5060 may also be limited in favor of the 8GB RTX 5060 Ti variant. There’s currently no word on the 8GB RTX 5050, which utilizes older GDDR6 chips that are less scarce. AMD and Intel may also be less affected, as they also rely on GDDR6, and are projected to manufacture significantly fewer cards overall.
The situation remains unclear for the 12GB GeForce RTX 5070. This model is expected to fill the performance and price gap between the RTX 5060 Ti (8GB) and the RTX 5080.
The status of the top-tier RTX 5090, featuring 32GB of memory, is also uncertain. While these cards are quickly selling out, this could be driven by increased demand and speculation rather than production limitations. In November, the most powerful GeForce cards were available for around $700, but remaining models at one retailer quickly climbed to $900 and are now out of stock. Some smaller online retailers still have limited quantities.
Nvidia has not yet issued an official statement regarding the reported production adjustments. However, Hardware Unboxed has been gathering information from manufacturers and Australian retailers, where stock is also dwindling. Asus has confirmed that the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti has been discontinued, and other manufacturers reportedly have no new shipments scheduled, though they haven’t officially declared an “end-of-life” for the cards.
During Black Friday sales, consumers still had opportunities to purchase graphics cards, including the RTX 5070 Ti, with some models even selling below the manufacturer’s suggested retail price. Several RTX 5070 Ti models were available for around $190. Prices have since risen to approximately $220, and further discounts are unlikely.
