GPU Memory Crisis Reshapes Graphics Card Market
Supply Constraints Hit 16GB Models as AI Industry Diverts Memory Production
Memory supply constraints have created widespread availability issues for NVIDIA’s 16GB graphics cards. ASUS temporarily halted production of RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5060 Ti 16GB models due to memory shortages, though the company clarified these are not permanently discontinued. The shortage stems from memory manufacturers prioritizing high-bandwidth memory production for AI data centers over consumer GPU components.
NVIDIA confirmed memory supply remains constrained industry-wide while stating the company continues shipping all GeForce SKUs. Australian retailers report RTX 5070 Ti unavailability from distributors through Q1 2026. This NAND shortage affects multiple consumer product categories beyond graphics cards.
Supply Crisis Timeline
December 3, 2025
Micron Technology announced plans to wind down consumer-facing Crucial brand by end of February 2026, focusing exclusively on AI and data center market. The company cited strong demand from AI infrastructure clients as the primary driver.
Mid-December 2025
Unverified reports from social media leakers claimed NVIDIA would reduce GPU supply to AIB partners. Specific reduction percentages remained unconfirmed by official sources.
January 6, 2026
PNY announced RTX 5070 Ti Dual-Slot Slim model at CES 2026, confirming February 2026 release at major retailers including Best Buy, Micro Center, and Amazon, showing not all manufacturers face identical constraints.
January 14, 2026
Hardware Unboxed reported ASUS moved RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5060 Ti 16GB to end-of-life status due to supply shortages. Australian retailers confirmed no availability from partners throughout Q1 2026.
January 15, 2026
ASUS issued official clarification via press release stating these models have not been discontinued or designated EOL. The company attributed supply fluctuations to temporary memory constraints with no plans to stop selling these models.
Current GPU Availability Status
Supply Constrained
Limited Availability
Generally Available
RTX 5070 Ti 16GB
Constrained
ASUS temporarily halted production due to memory supply shortages. Company confirmed these models remain in product lineup with no permanent discontinuation. Australian retailers report unavailability from distributors through Q1 2026.
RTX 5060 Ti 16GB
Constrained
ASUS also paused production of this model due to memory allocation challenges. The company stated supply constraints are temporary and production will resume when memory availability improves.
RTX 5080 16GB
Limited
Remains available but faces ongoing memory allocation challenges. Prices increased significantly over recent months due to supply-demand imbalance.
RTX 5060 Ti 8GB
Available
Lower VRAM configurations maintain better availability as manufacturers prioritize 8GB and 12GB models due to improved memory supply for these capacities.
Intel Arc B-Series
Available
Intel’s Battlemage cards demonstrate improved availability with recent price reductions, offering consumer-friendly alternatives to constrained NVIDIA options.
Three-Month Price Movement
GeForce RTX 5090
↑79%
Q4 2025 – Q1 2026
GeForce RTX 5080
↑35%
Q4 2025 – Q1 2026
Radeon RX 9070 XT
↑17%
Q4 2025 – Q1 2026
Radeon RX 9070
↑15%
Q4 2025 – Q1 2026
Intel Arc B580
↓4%
Q4 2025 – Q1 2026
Intel Arc B570
↓9%
Q4 2025 – Q1 2026
Understanding the Supply Dynamics
Memory manufacturers shifted production capacity toward high-bandwidth memory for AI data center infrastructure. This reallocation reduced availability of GDDR6X memory used in consumer graphics cards, particularly affecting 16GB configurations.
ASUS issued official statement clarifying RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5060 Ti 16GB models remain in product lineup:
“The GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB have not been discontinued or designated as end-of-life (EOL)… Current fluctuations in supply are primarily due to memory supply constraints, which have temporarily affected production.”
NVIDIA confirmed industry-wide memory supply constraints while maintaining all GeForce SKUs remain in production. The company stated it continues working with suppliers to maximize memory availability across product lineup.
16GB models face greater production challenges due to higher memory requirements. Manufacturers prioritize 8GB and 12GB configurations where component availability proves more consistent, affecting supply balance across product tiers.
Micron VP Christopher Moore explained memory supply optimization strategy to maximize output by reducing product variation. Fewer memory configurations enable higher production efficiency during constrained supply periods.
Regional availability varies significantly. Australian retailers confirmed complete RTX 5070 Ti unavailability through Q1 2026, while PNY announced new RTX 5070 Ti models shipping February
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RTX 5070 Ti supply constrained as memory shortage hits 16GB GPUs—ASUS confirms temporary production pause
