Nvidia Halts RTX 50 GPU Production Amid Memory Crunch

Nvidia is reportedly set to significantly decrease production of its anticipated RTX 50-series graphics processing units (GPUs) in the first half of 2026. Citing industry sources, the reduction could be as high as 30-40%, largely due to a global shortage of memory components. This move is expected to impact midrange cards such as the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5060 Ti 16GB GDDR6, making these essential 12GB+ VRAM options scarcer for consumers.

The decision is reportedly a strategic response to overwhelming demand from data center clients who are absorbing available hardware. This pressure, combined with rising prices for memory and SSDs, signals a potential slowdown in the PC market for purchasing and upgrading. While AMD is rumored to increase GPU prices, Nvidia is purportedly trying to avoid direct hikes, though partners with limited supplies may raise their own prices.

Nvidia has not officially commented on these production cuts. CEO Jensen Huang previously stated the company had planned its supply chain well. However, the current shortage of new 3GB GDDR7 VRAM modules could also be a factor, potentially delaying an RTX 50 Super refresh or leading Nvidia to prioritize these chips for higher-end laptop GPUs.