PC gamers hoping to snag an affordable RTX 50-series GPU next year might face slim pickings. Fresh reports claim NVIDIA plans to slash RTX 50 supply by up to 40% in 2026, driven by skyrocketing memory costs that could hike prices across the board.
The culprit? A shrinking pool of consumer RAM makers. With Micron bowing out to chase AI server deals, Samsung and SK Hynix are left holding the bag, jacking up GDDR7 prices. NVIDIA’s response: dial back production to dodge the hit, especially on data center-hungry components. While the company hasn’t confirmed, multiple sources point to lower-end models bearing the brunt.
Expect the RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5070 Ti—NVIDIA’s sweet-spot 12GB VRAM cards—to see the biggest shortages. These budget-friendly options could vanish from shelves, forcing upgrades toward pricier RTX 5080 or 5090 beasts. Retailers might hike tags on remaining stock amid steady demand, even as NVIDIA reportedly resists outright price bumps.
This squeeze echoes broader tech woes, with RAM hikes rippling into smartphones and PCs. Shortages could linger past 2026, potentially kneecapping the next-gen lineup too. Gamers, brace for longer wait times or fatter wallets.