Excessive Demand, Low Reminiscence Inventory Pressure Stock of Some Nvidia RTX 50 GPUs

Cease us in case you’ve heard this story earlier than: The AI increase is driving overwhelming demand for reminiscence merchandise, straining the manufacturing of PC components that incorporate reminiscence, like graphics playing cards. This week, the scarcity led to a flurry of updates from Asus and Nvidia, after a small PR mix-up.

For those who heard that Nvidia is placing the RTX 5070 Ti and 5060 Ti 16GB on end-of-life (EOl) standing, the excellent news is that they’re nonetheless in manufacturing. Sadly, “Demand for GeForce RTX GPUs is robust, and reminiscence provide is constrained,” Nvidia instructed {Hardware} Unboxed, including, “We proceed to ship all GeForce SKUs and are working carefully with our suppliers to maximise reminiscence availability.”

Asus additionally weighed in on the matter, because it seems to have been concerned within the communication blip.

“We wish to make clear current studies concerning the Asus GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5060 Ti 16GB,” Asus wrote in an announcement. “Sure media might have obtained incomplete info from an Asus PR consultant concerning these merchandise.”

The assertion factors on to reminiscence provide points because the offender for “Present fluctuations in provide” and restricted card availability, however notes that the playing cards aren’t EOL.

“Asus has no plans to cease promoting these fashions,” the assertion reads.

There isn’t any doubt that low reminiscence inventory is inflicting complications for GPU makers. Rumors recommend that AMD will not launch GPUs till 2027, and Nvidia is delaying its RTX 6000 sequence, although AMD’s technique seems to contain extra than simply reminiscence pricing. As a result of Nvidia is king of the GPU hill, AMD could also be ready for the RTX 6000 sequence to drop earlier than setting costs for its personal chips.

PC makers have begun elevating costs on their programs amid the continuing reminiscence scarcity. And recreation console makers discover themselves in the identical place. Each Microsoft and Sony might wind up delaying the following generations of their Xbox and PlayStation consoles if the reminiscence scarcity continues. Microsoft raised the worth of its Xbox Sequence X, and it is rumored that the console might see one other value hike to account for the reminiscence shortage difficulty.

Clearly, reminiscence is not the one useful resource AI information facilities are gobbling up. Powering all that {hardware} requires huge quantities of energy, and cooling it consumes plenty of water. Microsoft just lately launched its plan for safeguarding communities close to the information facilities it builds, which is a step in the suitable route. Nonetheless, because the AI increase continues, so do the rising pains.