NVIDIA is facing a bit of a challenge right now as their mid-range RTX 50 graphics cards hit a production speed bump. Due to a hiccup in chip supply, the release of these GPUs is seeing a delay.
Turbulence for NVIDIA’s RTX 50 Series: Mid-Range GPU Launches Delayed
NVIDIA’s rollout of their RTX 50 series has been anything but smooth sailing, particularly with their GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 models. Inventory was notably low, largely because global demand for semiconductors is through the roof—and unfortunately, there’s no sign of this letting up anytime soon.
According to well-known leaker Ming-Chi Kuo, NVIDIA is set to postpone the launch of its mid-range RTX 50 cards by about a month. This delay is meant to give their supply chain some much-needed breathing room.
In a recent tweet, Kuo mentioned how gamers and power users are keen to snap up the RTX 5090 and 5080, but supply issues are holding things back. Consequently, mass production of the RTX 5070 and 5060 will now slide from the initial February/March timeframe to March/April. With inventory so limited, these cards are expected to fly off the shelves quickly.
Earlier today, we covered this update, explaining that the RTX 5070 will make its debut in early March. Kuo’s comments further corroborate this information. The situation stems from NVIDIA’s current inability to meet the booming demand. Releasing new models would likely exacerbate stock shortages, frustrating consumers even more.
For a clearer understanding of the supply situation, analyst Kakashii reported that Taiwan—a key market for NVIDIA—has only received fewer than 100 units of the RTX 5090. This scarcity mirrors the scenario across various regions, with retailers noting minimal stock for NVIDIA’s RTX Blackwell GPU. Team Green is clearly struggling to balance supply and demand, and it appears this tumult will persist for several months.
Kakashii shared insights on the supply constraints, revealing that a major Taiwanese store chain only received 20 units of the 5090 and 300 of the 5080 in their initial batch. Smaller retailers in Taiwan were fortunate to get even one or two units.
By pushing back the mid-range GPU launch, NVIDIA might gain some advantage over AMD’s RX 9070 lineup—assuming they pull off the release smoothly. Still, AMD seems well-positioned to seize the mainstream GPU market with their RX 9070 models, especially given the current criticism NVIDIA faces.
