NVIDIA is currently facing a bit of a hurdle with their mid-range RTX 50 GPUs, as production is being slowed down due to a shortage in chip supplies. This hiccup comes at a time when the demand for these chips is exceptionally high.
The situation for NVIDIA’s supply chain concerning the RTX 50 series isn’t exactly going as planned. When they launched their flagship GPUs, the GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, they did so with fewer models than usual. This shortage is directly tied to the peak global demand for semiconductors, and unfortunately, there’s no immediate sign of this improving.
Renowned leaker @mingchikuo recently suggested that NVIDIA is likely to postpone the launch of its mid-range RTX 50 GPUs by approximately a month. This delay is intended to give their supply chain some breathing room amid the high demand.
Gamers and power users have shown tremendous interest in the RTX 5090 and 5080 models, but chip supply constraints have led to shortages. These supply challenges are poised to push back the mass production of the RTX 5070 and 5060 to March or April, rather than the originally planned February or March timeframe. Limited availability means these cards are expected to sell out fast.
We’ve covered this topic earlier, and Ming-Chi Kuo’s insights align with previous updates. The core issue behind these delays is straightforward: NVIDIA simply cannot meet the current demand for their GPUs. Launching new models without having enough supply could lead to further disappointment for consumers.
To give you a clearer picture of how tight the supply situation is, an analysis by @kakashiii111 revealed that Taiwan received fewer than 100 units of the RTX 5090—a tiny number for such a significant market. Similar shortages were reported in other regions, with stores only receiving “single-digit” inventories of the flagship RTX Blackwell GPU. NVIDIA is currently struggling to balance supply and demand, and it’s expected that the situation will stabilize after several months.
By delaying the release of their mid-range GPUs, NVIDIA could potentially turn the situation to their advantage, especially if they manage a successful launch. This strategy could overshadow AMD’s upcoming RX 9070 series GPUs. Right now, public sentiment seems skewed against NVIDIA, giving AMD a promising opportunity to make waves with their new offerings.
