NVIDIA is facing a bit of a hiccup in their production of the mid-range RTX 50 series GPUs due to a chip supply shortage exacerbated by overwhelming demand.
### Struggles in the Supply Chain for NVIDIA’s RTX 50 Series Could Lead to Delayed Launch of Mid-Range GPUs
The launch of NVIDIA’s RTX 50 series GPUs was less than ideal, primarily because inventory was lacking for their top-of-the-line GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 models. This shortage is linked to the sky-high global demand for semiconductors, which doesn’t appear to be easing anytime soon.
Known leaker @mingchikuo has suggested that NVIDIA plans to delay the release of their mid-range RTX 50 GPUs by about a month. This delay is intended to ease the strain on the supply chain and give it some much-needed breathing room.
> “Gamers and power users are eager to get the RTX 5090 and 5080, but chip supply constraints are causing shortages. Supply issues will likely push back mass production of the RTX 5070/5060 from the original Feb/Mar to Mar/Apr. Limited supply means these two cards will sell out…”
> — Ming-Chi Kuo (@mingchikuo) February 12, 2025
Just today, we shared an update aligning with what Ming-Chi Kuo mentioned about the RTX 5070, now expected by early March. The delay primarily results from NVIDIA’s inability to meet the current demand for their consumer GPUs. As new models hit the shelves, they are likely to rapidly sell out, continuing this cycle of frustration for the average buyer.
Giving further insight, @kakashiii111 on Twitter noted that Taiwan’s recent stock of the RTX 5090 was under 100 units, highlighting a significant gap for a key NVIDIA market. Similar trends are seen elsewhere, as retailers are citing “single-digit” inventory for the RTX Blackwell GPUs. Team Green is grappling with balancing supply and demand, and we predict this will take a few months to stabilize.
> “After discussing with one of the largest stores in Taiwan, their entire chain received only 20 units of the 5090 and 300 of the 5080 last week as part of the first batch. Additionally, I spoke with numerous small sellers in Taiwan, most of whom were lucky to get 1–2 units for…”
> — Kakashii (@kakashiii111) February 9, 2025
Postponing the launch of these mid-range GPUs could give NVIDIA a chance to recapture the spotlight from AMD’s RX 9070 series, but that hinges on a successful release, which remains hopeful. Right now, AMD is poised to take the lead in the mainstream GPU market, with public sentiment somewhat leaning against NVIDIA at the moment.
