Graphics card makers face survival risks as Zotac warns of market pressures

HARDWARE NEWS manhkbrady - about 1 hour ago

Zotac Korea has issued a notice to customers warning that both memory and GPU availability are set to decline. According to the company, “memory supply will not be sufficient,” GPU shipments will also be reduced, and some graphics card models may be unavailable for an extended period. This aligns with recent reports suggesting Nvidia plans to significantly scale back GPU supply in early 2026, indicating that Nvidia’s earlier claims of “constrained” supply may have understated the situation. In short, Zotac is signaling that higher GPU prices should be expected.

Recent rumors have suggested that several Nvidia GPU models have been “effectively discontinued,” and Zotac Korea’s statement appears to support that narrative. If these reports are accurate, cards such as the RTX 5060 / RTX 5060 16GB, and RTX 5070 Ti could see sharply limited availability, while other models receive supply priority.

In its announcement, Zotac also confirmed that it has reduced reward points for new GPU purchases to 0%. The company says this move is intended to help keep prices as low as possible, as current market conditions are pushing costs upward.

Side view of an RTX 5090 graphics card, showcasing cooling fins and the GeForce RTX logo. Focus is on the connector.

Zotac’s outlook suggests that certain graphics card models could disappear from shelves for long stretches in the near future. The company added that maintaining a stable supply chain may only be feasible for GPUs produced using Samsung’s manufacturing processes - primarily affecting remaining RTX 30-series models. Compounding the issue, Zotac claims that the cost of silicon supplied to board partners has surged to unsustainable levels.

If Zotac’s assessment proves accurate, 2026 could be a difficult year for PC gamers. Memory and SSD prices have already climbed sharply, and GPU prices are following the same trend. Baseline prices for Nvidia’s RTX 5090 have reportedly increased by more than 55%, with further increases likely as the year progresses.

Amid these shortages, the Radeon RX 9070 XT is being positioned as a readily available alternative. Featuring 16GB of high-speed VRAM, AMD’s RDNA 4 architecture, and strong gaming efficiency, it offers high-end performance without extended wait times. Use our price comparison tool to find the best deals on the Radeon RX 9070 XT graphics card today.

Zotac warns market turmoil could endanger graphics card manufacturers

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