The global graphics card market is bracing for a significant supply crunch and subsequent price increases in the latter half of 2024, according to PC Partner, a major manufacturer for brands such as Zotac, Inno3D, and Manli. The company's recent statements indicate that the scarcity will impact not only high-end GPUs but also more affordable, entry-level models.
This anticipated shortage extends beyond memory component constraints, which have previously driven up prices for certain Nvidia cards. PC Partner's analysis, as reported by The Straits Times and Benchlife, points to broader manufacturing challenges. Supply for Nvidia's upcoming RTX Blackwell GPUs is reportedly lower for the third quarter than the second, with further reductions expected by year's end. Additionally, lead times for essential components like PCBs and power supplies have increased compared to the previous year, compounding the supply chain issues.
The implications for consumers could be severe. While Nvidia cards with 8GB of VRAM have recently seen less dramatic price hikes than their higher-memory counterparts, they are now expected to face increased costs. This trend is already visible with higher-tier cards like the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB and RTX 5070 reportedly hovering around $800. Concerns are mounting that even the most budget-friendly GPUs could see substantial price inflation, potentially reaching unprecedented levels for lower-spec models.
This situation is not exclusive to Nvidia. PC Partner also serves as a contract manufacturer for AMD's Sapphire GPUs. Therefore, the broader component shortages are likely to affect AMD's product availability and pricing as well. Should AMD graphics cards become prohibitively expensive, PC gamers may find themselves with limited alternatives, further exacerbating the impact of the GPU crisis.