The ongoing DRAM supply crisis is having an impact pc Rumors that the graphics card giant may cut production of its RTX GPUs as early as 2026 by around a third compared to earlier in 2025 could have an impact on Nvidia. While Nvidia hasn't commented on its product plans, PC builders looking to upgrade their graphics cards still have time to choose.
The ongoing RAM crisis began after OpenAI placed an industry-wide order for DRAM and other components, which will power its AI-based data centers and servers around the world. A few days later, DRAM manufacturers began reserving their DRAM allocations at the behest of OpenAI, with Micron later saying it was exiting the consumer RAM and SSD market to focus more on enterprise-level manufacturing. This leaves Samsung and SK Hynix as the two leading consumer RAM brands, with Samsung saying it will have to double its contract price on DRAM to what it has with DDR5 RAM brands such as Corsair and G.Skill. The RAM shortage has had a profound effect on consumer pricing, with 2×16 GB DDR5 RAM kits jumping from $90 in late summer to more than $350 as of this writing.
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Nvidia may end RTX graphics card production in 2026
Although rumors about Nvidia's plans should be taken with a good grain of salt, sources said that the tech giant may be forced to make some choices that could negatively affect consumers. According to sources at China's Board Channel Forum, Nvidia may reduce gaming GPU supply and production by 30% to 40% in early 2026, a reduction compared to Nvidia's manufacturing production numbers in 2025. This change is due to the ongoing RAM crisis, as the supply of DRAM remains low and prices may drop. The Board Channel forum said Nvidia could cut production of the RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5070 Ti GPUs, which both use 16 GB of GDDR7 VRAM, and cost less to buy than the high-end RTX 5080, making them unprofitable.
As of this writing, the cheapest versions of the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB and RTX 5070 Ti are priced at $429 and $749, respectively, while the lowest-priced RTX 5080 will still set customers over the $1,100 minimum. Given that the RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5070 Ti could be on the chopping block as Nvidia shifts towards making more profitable cards, it could leave graphics cards with 8GB of VRAM, including the RTX 5060, safe due to their low memory allocation. However, Nvidia has not commented on its potential production plans for 2026, meaning PC builders will have to wait for more information about the tech giant's next move.
Nvidia's possible decision could affect PC and console gamers
But, shoppers looking to upgrade their GPUs with more video memory still have time to decide. Currently, the RTX 5070 Ti and similar graphics cards are still in stock at retailers like Amazon and Newegg, with cards from MSI and Gigabyte available at an MSRP of $749. With features like Nvidia Filters, DLSS 4 upscaling, and Multi-frame Generation, the RTX 50 series has become a popular choice for PC gamers looking to play the latest titles at the best settings. However, Nvidia's high-end graphics cards remain a target for scalpers, as the cheapest RTX 5090 card will still set users back at least $2,800.
Additionally, Nvidia's Tegra T239 system-on-a-chip (SOC) powers the Nintendo Switch 2, one of 2025's best-selling devices. With the Switch 2 already facing a potential price hike due to the RAM crisis, it remains to be seen whether Nvidia's production cuts will affect Nintendo and its customers.
Sources: PC Gamer, OverClock3D
