NVIDIA has hit a bit of a snag with their mid-range RTX 50 graphics cards due to an unexpected shortage of chips right when demand is soaring.
The RTX 50 Series from NVIDIA has been facing some serious supply chain challenges. Initially, NVIDIA entered the market with its flagship models like the GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, but they did so with notably low inventory levels. The ongoing global semiconductor crunch hasn’t helped matters, leaving NVIDIA in a tricky spot with no immediate relief in sight.
Insider @mingchikuo spilled the beans, suggesting that NVIDIA plans to shift the launch of its mid-range RTX 50 GPUs to about a month later than initially planned. This delay seems to be an attempt to give the supply chain some much-needed breathing room.
Enthusiasts looking forward to the RTX 5090 and 5080 are feeling the pinch as these chip constraints mean production delays for the RTX 5070 and 5060, pushing their debut from the original February/March timeframe to March/April. The limited supply suggests these cards might sell out quickly, leaving many eager buyers empty-handed.
Earlier today, we delved into this development, mentioning that the RTX 5070’s launch is expected in early March, an assertion corroborated by Ming-Chi Kuo’s comments. The crux of the delay is straightforward: NVIDIA is struggling to meet the skyrocketing demand for its current line-up, and with new models on the horizon, they expect similar stock issues. This scenario poses a potential letdown for regular consumers.
To illustrate the supply chain challenges, analyst @kakashiii111 pointed out that Taiwan, a major player in the NVIDIA market, received less than 100 RTX 5090 units—a pattern echoed across various regions where inventory levels hovered in “single-digit” territory for NVIDIA’s RTX Blackwell GPUs. At present, Team Green is grappling to balance supply and demand, with estimates suggesting resolution in a few months.
Pushing back the launch of mid-range GPUs might work in NVIDIA’s favor if it means they can draw attention away from AMD’s RX 9070 series. However, with AMD ready to seize the opportunity, they have a good shot at capturing the mainstream market, as consumer sentiment appears to be tilting against NVIDIA for the moment.
