Memory shortages could kill NVIDIA’s RTX 50 SUPER cards | Rumor or not, now is a good time to consider buying a GPU

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When NVIDIA’s RTX 50-series graphics cards came out in 2025, their launch wasn’t smooth. There were limited quantities available, prices quickly rose, and many people were skeptical about the significant improvements offered by DLSS 4 and a new feature called Multi Frame Generation, which was only available with the latest Blackwell architecture.

Many PC gamers have recently been able to buy NVIDIA’s newest graphics cards, and prices have been steadily decreasing – sometimes even below the suggested retail price. However, some gamers are still holding out, hoping for an updated RTX 50-series to be released before making a purchase.

I’m referring to the SUPER series – NVIDIA typically launches these improved versions around a year after the original graphics cards are available.

NVIDIA hasn’t confirmed any plans for updated ‘SUPER’ versions of its Blackwell graphics cards, but many people are waiting to buy, hoping they’ll be released soon.

Those plans may have fallen apart, but this rumor is likely untrue.

The planned update, known as SUPER, has been cancelled because of a severe shortage of 3GB GDDR7 memory, according to a post from UNIKO’s Hardware X account (as reported by Videocardz).

As a researcher tracking the semiconductor market, I’m seeing a really significant shortage of both NAND and DRAM chips right now. The huge demand for AI is driving this – all those powerful AI GPUs and the data centers they run on need the same memory chips that go into the graphics cards we use in our computers and phones. This is creating a major bottleneck in the supply chain, making it hard to get enough chips to meet everyone’s needs.

It’s unclear if this potential problem is severe enough to delay the release of new graphics cards from the leading manufacturer. Currently, it’s just a rumor, but it’s still making people worried.

A major reason people are eagerly awaiting NVIDIA’s RTX 50 SUPER series is the amount of video memory (VRAM). The original, non-SUPER cards didn’t have enough for some users.

Many people find the amount of VRAM in the RTX 50-series cards disappointing. This is because NVIDIA decided to use 2GB GDDR7 modules for the lineup, with the exception of the desktop RTX 5050 which uses the older GDDR6 technology.

For instance, the RTX 5060 only has 8GB of VRAM, which isn’t sufficient for many current games by 2025. Using 3GB GDDR7 modules would enable NVIDIA to increase the amount of VRAM in its SUPER graphics cards.

UNIKO believes the current supply of DRAM memory is likely being saved for the more profitable RTX 5090 Laptop and RTX Pro 6000 graphics cards. These high-end cards generate significantly more revenue than their mid-range counterparts. As an example, the RTX Pro 6000 is currently on sale at Newegg for $8,345.99, after a $650 discount.

Are GPU prices about to spike again?

A recent post on the UNIKO Hardware blog warns that the price of current graphics cards is likely to increase soon, because the cost of 2GB GDDR7 memory modules is going up.

Demand for memory to support the rapid growth of artificial intelligence is incredibly high. Since AI development is far more profitable than selling graphics cards to consumers, it’s likely NVIDIA will prioritize using all available memory for AI infrastructure.

I’m not certain if a lack of memory will cause prices for existing NVIDIA graphics cards to increase, but now isn’t a bad time to think about buying new ones.

I bought an RTX 5070 Ti for more than the suggested price earlier this year, and I’m glad I did. Trying out Multi Frame Generation in DOOM: The Dark Ages quickly proved to me that this graphics card is worth the investment.

With graphics card prices returning to normal and the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales almost here, this could be your last opportunity to buy a Blackwell card for a good price.

FAQ

What are NVIDIA’s SUPER graphics cards?

NVIDIA’s SUPER series graphics cards promise a noticeable boost in performance, and they could address concerns about limited video memory, particularly with the 8GB RTX 5060. However, it’s still uncertain if these cards will actually be released.

Are GPU prices about to rise?

It’s difficult to confirm, but reports suggest that building out AI technology is using an unprecedented amount of memory. Given the potential profits from AI and NVIDIA’s powerful graphics cards, it’s likely that there will be fewer resources available for the memory used in less expensive graphics cards for everyday consumers.

Can I buy an NVIDIA GPU below MSRP?

Currently, you can actually find some NVIDIA RTX 50-series graphics cards selling for under the manufacturer’s suggested retail price. I’ve highlighted two MSI models available at Newegg that are on sale and also include Black Friday price protection.

Is Black Friday a good time to buy a new GPU?

Black Friday GPU deals are unpredictable – some years are disappointing, while others offer incredible savings. With Black Friday just three weeks away on November 28th, and early discounts already appearing, it’s worth checking out what deals are currently available.

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2025-11-07 18:10