Nvidia dominates the gaming market with some of the best graphics cards, but the pricing situation is about to get significantly worse for gamers. According to prominent hardware leaker MEGAsizeGPU, Nvidia has reportedly slashed graphics card supply to its AIC partners by 15% to 20%, a substantial reduction that will inevitably drive prices even higher than they already are.
The graphics card market is already in a horrible place, with insane prices that leave gamers and system builders paying exorbitant sums. The rumored supply reduction will only worsen the situation. With reduced inventory flowing to manufacturers, the basic principle of supply and demand guarantees that already steep prices will definitely continue their upward trajectory. The rumor serves as a harsh reality check that the graphics card crisis is far from over; if anything, it's just commencing.
These price hikes are affecting the entire graphics card market, regardless of the vendor. The situation has become particularly severe with Nvidia’s latest GeForce RTX 50 (codenamed Blackwell) series. Many complain that Blackwell-based graphics cards launched at premium prices and have nearly doubled in price in less than a quarter. In just the last three months, the GeForce RTX 5080 has experienced price increases of up to 35%, while the flagship GeForce RTX 5090 has seen a staggering 79% price surge.
Graphics Card Price Variations Over The Last Three Months
Graphics Card |
Price Variation |
Architecture |
|---|---|---|
GeForce RTX 5090 |
Up to 79% |
Blackwell |
GeForce RTX 5080 |
Up to 35% |
Blackwell |
Radeon RX 9070 XT |
Up to 17% |
RDNA 4 |
Radeon RX 9070 |
Up to 15% |
RDNA 4 |
Arc B580 |
Down y 4% |
Battlemage |
Arc B570 |
Down by 9% |
Battlemage |
Meanwhile, AMD’s competing Radeon RX 9700 series, powered by the RDNA 4 architecture, has also seen price increases, though these remain within more reasonable margins. The Radeon RX 9070 XT has risen by up to 17%, while the standard Radeon RX 9070 has increased by approximately 15% over the past three months.
In a refreshing contrast, Intel’s Arc B-series (codenamed Battlemage) graphics cards have actually become more affordable. The Arc B580 and Arc B570 have seen price reductions of approximately 4% and 9%, respectively, making Intel the only manufacturer currently moving in a consumer-friendly direction.
Adding to the concerning outlook, MEGAsizeGPU also claims that Nvidia has no plans to release any new GeForce graphics cards until 2027. It’s unclear whether the upcoming graphics cards are the rumored GeForce RTX 50-series refresh or the next-generation GeForce RTX 60 series, which would leverage Nvidia’s latest Rubin architecture.
Taking care of your graphics card and waiting for prices to stabilize would be the best course of action. If you absolutely must replace a failed card or are committed to finishing a new build that can’t wait, there are viable options beyond Nvidia’s offerings. AMD’s RDNA 4 and Intel’s Battlemage cards remain more pocket-friendly alternatives despite their respective price increases.
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