GPU Shortage Woe: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series Already in High Demand, Prices Skyrocket in Some Regions
The wait for the latest and greatest in graphics processing technology has been palpable, and it seems like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series has finally arrived. However, this highly anticipated launch has turned into a nightmare for many enthusiasts, as reports are emerging of shortages and skyrocketing prices for the flagship GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 GPUs.
Wccftech, a reputable source in the tech community, has shed light on the current market situation, revealing that prices for these top-of-the-line GPUs have more than doubled in some regions. This shocking development has sent shockwaves through the gaming and tech communities, leaving many wondering if the RTX 50 Series is worth the hefty price tag.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs: Shortages and Price Increases
The highly anticipated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 series GPUs have faced a shortage in supply, resulting in delayed shipments and even price increases in some regions. According to Morningpicker’s investigation, miscommunications between NVIDIA and its board partners have contributed to the limited availability of RTX 50 series GPUs, including the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080.
Reports from Morningpicker suggest that the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 are extremely scarce in the market worldwide, with prices in some areas having already doubled. In China, the RTX 5090 can retail at up to $4000, while the RTX 5080 is priced at $2000. This is a significant increase from their MSRPs.
As for the EU market, prices are expected to be even higher due to the premium tax. Morningpicker’s sources indicate that the availability of these GPUs is unlikely to return to normal in the near future, with some reports suggesting that the supply shortage could last until the end of Q1 or Q2.
Supply Chain Issues and Miscommunications
According to Morningpicker’s investigation, the breakdown in communication between NVIDIA and its board partners has resulted in a limited stock of RTX 50 series GPUs. This includes the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, but the RTX 5070 GPUs might also be affected.
As per the sources, the availability is expected to improve only at the Spring Festival, but till then, there is no guarantee that customers can get one of these GPUs at MSRP.
Regional Price Increases and Shortages
A similar report has emerged from Morningpicker, which claims that due to an acute shortage of RTX 5090 and 5080 inventory, a significant surge in prices has been seen in some regions. Specifically, China has seen a significant increase in prices, with the RTX 5090 retailing at up to $4000 and the RTX 5080 at $2000.
Morningpicker’s sources indicate that the AIBs (Add-in Board partners) are likely to benefit from this price increase, including ASUS, Gigabyte, and MSI.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080, 5070 Ti, and 5070: Specifications and Performance
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Specifications
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 graphics card will feature the GB203-400-A1 GPU die, utilizing the full GB203 GPU die with 84 SMs and 10,752 cores. This represents a 51% reduction compared to the RTX 5090.
The RTX 5080 will also feature half the VRAM configuration, with a 16 GB capacity running across a 256-bit bus interface while utilizing GDDR7 modules. The graphics card will feature the fastest GDDR7 memory on the market, offering up to 30 Gbps speeds for 960 GB/s of total bandwidth.
The graphics card will feature a 360W TBP, a 12.5% increase in the power wall compared to the RTX 4080 SUPER.
According to Morningpicker’s analysis, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is expected to end up 2x faster than the RTX 4080 SUPER while leveraging the advanced DLSS 4 capabilities for $999 US, a price which is better than the original RTX 4080 ($1199 US).
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Specifications
The NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti will feature a cut-down GB203 GPU with 8960 CUDA Cores. The memory side will feature the same 16 GB VRAM as the RTX 4070 Ti SUPER but upgraded with brand-new GDDR7 memory chips, offering a bandwidth boost of 78% over the 4070 Ti to 896 GB/s.
As per the specs page, the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti will operate at a boost clock of 2.45 GHz. Morningpicker’s analysis suggests that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti will offer 2x the uplift over the RTX 4070 Ti while being priced at $749 US, which is better than the 4070 Ti & 4070 Ti SUPER given its improvements and support for DLSS 4 capabilities.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Specifications
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 will feature the GB205 GPU on the PG147 reference PCB. The GPU side will feature up to 6144 CUDA cores and the memory side will feature a 192-bit bus interface with 12 GB of memory, similar to the existing 12 GB RTX 4070 (192-bit).
The card will feature 28 Gbps memory speeds for up to 672 GB/s of total bandwidth, a 33% increase in bandwidth versus the RTX 4070 & RTX 4070 SUPER GPUs.
Morningpicker’s analysis suggests that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 is said to be faster than the RTX 4090 at a price of just $549 US, a potent offering in the high-end segment.
Market Implications and Analysis
Competition in the High-End Segment
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 series GPUs have created a new level of competition in the high-end segment. Morningpicker’s analysis suggests that the RTX 5080, RTX 5070 Ti, and RTX 5070 will offer significant performance improvements over their predecessors.
The RTX 5080 and RTX 5070 Ti are expected to offer 2x the uplift over the RTX 4080 SUPER and RTX 4070 Ti, respectively, while the RTX 5070 is said to be faster than the RTX 4090 at a price of just $549 US.
This level of performance and price offerings will undoubtedly pose a significant threat to AMD’s recently announced RX 9070 series graphics cards.
Customer Expectations and Disappointment
Reports from Morningpicker suggest that the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 are extremely scarce in the market worldwide, with prices in some areas having already doubled. This has left many customers disappointed and frustrated.
Morningpicker’s analysis suggests that the limited availability of these GPUs is likely to impact customer expectations and loyalty, potentially affecting future sales.
Long-Term Effects on the Market and NVIDIA
The supply chain issues and miscommunications between NVIDIA and its board partners may have long-term effects on the market and NVIDIA’s reputation.
Morningpicker’s analysis suggests that the company may need to re-evaluate its supply chain management and communication strategies to avoid similar issues in the future.
Additionally, the limited availability of these GPUs may impact NVIDIA’s market share and revenue, potentially leading to a re-evaluation of its product offerings and pricing strategies.
Conclusion
The news out of Wccftech paints a stark picture for gamers eager to upgrade to NVIDIA’s latest and greatest: the GeForce RTX 50 series. Shortages are already biting, driving prices for the flagship RTX 5090 and high-end RTX 5080 to double in some regions. This early scarcity isn’t surprising given the immense demand for GPUs, compounded by supply chain issues and the ongoing rise of AI development, which is gobbling up these powerful processing units.
This situation throws a wrench into the plans of many gamers, forcing them to face inflated prices or endure lengthy wait times. Beyond the gamer demographic, this shortage has wider implications. The soaring cost of GPUs could stifle innovation in fields like AI research and development, as access to these crucial processing tools becomes increasingly expensive.
The coming months will be crucial in determining how NVIDIA navigates this turbulent landscape. Can they ramp up production quickly enough to meet demand? Will alternative solutions like cloud gaming gain traction as a response to the hardware crunch? One thing is certain: the race for the most powerful GPUs has entered a new, unpredictable phase, leaving gamers and researchers alike holding their breath.