The ongoing DRAM supply crisis affecting the PC market may have an impact on Nvidia, according to rumors that state the graphics card giant could reduce production of its RTX GPUs sometime in early 2026 by approximately a third of what it was earlier in 2025. While Nvidia has not commented on its production plans, PC builders looking to upgrade their graphics card still have time to choose what they want.
The ongoing RAM crisis started after OpenAI placed an industry-wide order for DRAM and other components, which would power its AI-based data centers and servers across the globe. Days afterward, DRAM manufacturers started reserving most of their DRAM allocations to OpenAI’s order, with Micron later stating it was exiting the consumer RAM and SSD market to focus more on enterprise-level manufacturing. This has left Samsung and SK Hynix as two of the leading consumer RAM brands, with Samsung stating it has had to double its contract pricing on DRAM that it has with DDR5 RAM brands like Corsair and G.Skill. The RAM shortage has had a profound effect on consumer pricing, with 2×16 GB DDR5 RAM kits surging from $90 in late summer to over $350 as of this writing.
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Nvidia Could Slash RTX Graphics Card Production in 2026
Though rumors about Nvidia’s plans should be taken with a fine grain of salt, sources stated that the tech giant may be forced to make some choices that could negatively impact consumers. According to sources on the Board Channels forum in China, Nvidia may reduce gaming GPU supply and production by 30% to 40% sometime in early 2026, with the reduction being in comparison to Nvidia’s output production numbers in 2025. The shift is due to the ongoing RAM crisis, as DRAM remains in short supply across the globe and prices continue to skyrocket. The Board Channels forum stated that Nvidia could cut the production of the RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5070 Ti GPUs, which both utilize 16 GB of GDDR7 VRAM, and cost less money to buy than the high-end RTX 5080, making them not as profitable.
As of this writing, the cheapest versions of the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB and RTX 5070 Ti are respectively priced at $429 and $749, while the lowest-priced RTX 5080 will still set back customers over $1,100 minimum. Given that the RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5070 Ti could be on the chopping block as Nvidia shifts towards making more profitable cards, this would likely leave graphics cards with 8GB of VRAM, including the RTX 5060, unscathed due to their lower memory allotment. However, Nvidia has not commented on its potential production plans for 2026, meaning PC builders must wait for more information about the tech giant’s next moves.
Nvidia’s Potential Decision Could Affect PC and Console Gamers
But, shoppers looking to upgrade their GPUs to one with plenty of video memory still have time to make a decision. Currently, the RTX 5070 Ti and similar graphics cards are still in stock at retailers like Amazon and Newegg, with cards from MSI and Gigabyte available at an MSRP of $749. With features like Nvidia Filters, DLSS 4 upscaling, and Multi-frame Generation, the RTX 50 series remains a popular choice for PC gamers looking to play the latest titles at the best settings possible. However, Nvidia’s high-end graphics cards remain a target for scalpers, as the cheapest RTX 5090 card will still set users back at least $2,800.
Additionally, Nvidia’s Tegra T239 system-on-a-chip (SOC) powers the Nintendo Switch 2, one of the top-selling devices of 2025. With the Switch 2 already facing a possible price increase due to the RAM crisis, it remains to be seen if Nvidia’s production cuts will affect Nintendo and its customers in 2026 as well.
Sources: PC Gamer, OverClock3D
