Amid the global DRAM shortage shaking the tech industry, Nvidia is reportedly planning to reduce production of discrete graphics cards by 30–40% in the first half of 2026 compared to last year. While this may sound concerning, experts suggest it could be a strategic move to maintain market balance.
The shortage of memory modules is expected to lower PC and laptop production, which in turn reduces demand for Nvidia’s Blackwell architecture GPUs. Cutting production is seen as a preventive measure to avoid oversupply and price drops in a volatile market.
Currently, only high-end models like the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 are in short supply, with elevated prices, while mid-range and entry-level GPUs such as the RTX 5050, 5060, and 5070 remain widely available thanks to previous stockpiling by Nvidia and partners.
Graphics cards with 16GB VRAM, including the RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5070 Ti, are expected to be affected first due to their high GDDR7 memory requirements, which makes production costlier. Manufacturers may shift focus to models that use resources more efficiently.
Another key factor is the anticipated launch of the RTX 50 Super, which is expected to feature upgraded high-density 3GB memory modules (up from 2GB). Reserving VRAM supply for the new generation is seen as a smarter approach than continuing to produce older models.
In summary, Nvidia’s production cut may be a strategic move to avoid shortages and price surges, while ensuring sufficient stock of the new RTX 50 Super series in 2026.
Origin: PCGamer
