It’s easy to take for granted, but the GeForce RTX 40 series has been easy to get hold of relative to the RTX 30 series. Without a cryptocurrency boom or other circumstances driving demand well above supply, Lovelace pixel pushers are readily available and priced in accordance with MSRPs. Sadly, it appears this period of peace and plenty may soon end as another Nvidia GPU shortage is potentially on the horizon.
This shortage will apparently affect the best graphics cards and budget models alike. While there are no signs of retailers inflating prices or running out of stock for now, several sources claim we’ll feel the effects soon. Making matters more complicated, no one can agree on a single reason for the constraints. Instead, this could be a multi-pronged problem, with some suggesting it’s partly of Nvidia’s design.
One theory put forward by IT Home, shared by leaker harukaze5719 on X, is to do with VRAM. According to the outlet, quality issues with GDDR6X memory have caused delays in production, creating a shortage in expected supply. This affects GeForce RTX 4070 and above, as the GeForce RTX 4060 and 4060 Ti use GDDR6. Thankfully, this problem will only “briefly” impact the availability of stock.
Should the above turn out to be true, this is an unfortunate but understandable set of circumstances. Of course, we’re glad to see Nvidia taking necessary steps to maintain quality across its stack. However, the company is allegedly engaging in practices that muddy these seemingly transparent waters.
Another Taiwanese outlet (via WCCFTech) suggests Nvidia is shifting production priorities away from GeForce to instead concentrate on its AI businesses. This is due to a “crowding effect” within the company’s supply chains. Given how much profit Nvidia makes from artificial intelligence relative to its consumer graphics cards, such a decision makes the most business sense. It’s unclear whether this is a temporary measure or if it’s indicative of how Team Green plans to operate moving forward.
It’s also entirely possible that Nvidia wishes to clear the runway of existing stock so its upcoming RTX 50 series can take off. An oversupply of RTX 30 series cards has undoubtedly hampered the adoption rate of Lovelace GPUs, particularly on the lower-end. Don’t forget GeForce RTX 4060 continues to receive criticism for its lacking upgrades compared to RTX 3060.
Whatever the case, prepare your purchasing plans for potential price rises. If you’ve been eyeing up a GeForce RTX 4090 or another Nvidia graphics card, now would be the time to grab one. Although, it may be worth waiting for the RTX 50 series reveal if you’re able.
