It looks like NVIDIA is facing some challenges with their mid-range RTX 50 graphics cards. The company, often referred to as Team Green, is experiencing a hitch in mass production because of a global shortage of chips fueled by overwhelming demand.
With the RTX 50 series release, NVIDIA found themselves in a tricky spot regarding inventory. The initial rollout of the flagship models, the GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, came with one of the smallest inventories they’ve ever had. This situation mirrors the peak semiconductor demand we are seeing worldwide, and unfortunately, things aren’t smoothing out just yet.
According to well-known insider @mingchikuo, NVIDIA has decided to postpone the release of its mid-range RTX 50 GPUs. They are shifting the timeline ahead by about a month, providing the supply chain a much-needed respite.
Gamers and power users have been eagerly waiting to get their hands on the RTX 5090 and 5080. However, the ongoing supply constraints are causing significant shortages. Because of this, the mass production schedule for the RTX 5070 and 5060 has now been shifted from its original February/March window to March/April. The limited supply means these cards are expected to sell out quickly.
We discussed this scenario in a previous update, confirming that the RTX 5070 is now expected to launch in early March, aligning with Ming-Chi Kuo’s insights. The rationale is straightforward: NVIDIA’s current lineup is already unable to meet consumer demand, and releasing new models would only exacerbate the problem for everyday buyers.
To give you an idea of the supply situation, an analysis by user @kakashiii111 highlights how challenging it has been to get these GPUs globally. For instance, Taiwan—a major market for NVIDIA—received under 100 units of the RTX 5090, which is quite telling. Many other regions reported similarly low numbers, with retailers showing “single-digit” stocks of NVIDIA’s top-tier RTX Blackwell GPUs. Given this turmoil, we predict the supply-demand imbalance may not stabilize for several more months.
One potential advantage of delaying the mid-range GPU launch could be NVIDIA’s ability to shift some attention away from AMD’s competing RX 9070 series GPUs. If NVIDIA can execute their release effectively, they might reclaim some market spotlight. For now, the public opinion doesn’t favor NVIDIA, leaving AMD with a strong opportunity to capture the mainstream GPU market with their RX 9070 lineup.
