Supply Issues and Skyrocketing Prices Hit Nvidia RTX 5000 Series GPUs

A significant supply crunch is currently impacting Nvidia's RTX 5000 series graphics cards, with particular models becoming nearly impossible to find through certain suppliers. Reports from a German seller highlight that the RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090 are all facing availability issues, raising concerns about future stock levels and pricing.

Limited Availability and Price Surge

According to an email shared by the seller, suppliers have confirmed that these high-end GPUs are not available for order, with the RTX 5070 being an exception—limited to five units per model. This scarcity is largely attributed to the shortage of GDDR7 VRAM, which is primarily being directed toward AI data centers, exacerbating the ongoing GPU supply issues.

While some stock remains for most RTX 5000 series GPUs, the situation hints at possible looming shortages that could lead to increased prices and difficulty in procurement for consumers.

Rising GPU Prices

The market reflects these supply constraints, with retailers like Best Buy in the US listing the Asus Prime GeForce RTX 5080 at $1,599—significantly above the MSRP of $999. Similarly, the RTX 5090 has seen its price jump from $3,610 to over $4,200, bringing it perilously close to the $5,000 estimate that has been floated in rumors.

This escalation in prices isn't limited to Nvidia's flagship models; the trend is quickly affecting other GPUs, forcing consumers to pay premium prices just to upgrade or build new gaming PCs.

Broader Implications for the PC Hardware Market

The ongoing RAM crisis, worsened by the AI boom, continues to hamper the entire PC hardware ecosystem. The shortage of memory chips has already led to high prices and limited availability across various components, and this problem seems destined to intensify.

Potential for Scalping and Further Shortages

With graphics card shortages intensifying, scalping might make a comeback, similar to the surge seen during the pandemic. Consumers seeking Nvidia GPUs or alternatives like AMD Radeon or Intel Arc cards may find themselves overpaying or unable to find products altogether.

Last-Gen GPUs and Alternative Options

Although the RTX 4000 series remains available, it is winding down, making last-gen Nvidia GPUs increasingly difficult to source. As a result, consumers are left with few options: new RTX 5000 GPUs or alternative graphics cards, the latter also experiencing price hikes and production slowdowns due to RAM costs.

Outlook

The ramification of these supply and pricing issues could have long-lasting effects on PC gaming and hardware upgrading. As long as the AI demand continues to fuel the memory shortage, affordability and availability for high-performance GPUs may remain out of reach for many enthusiasts.

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