As rumors continue to swirl, the upcoming launch of Nvidia’s next-generation graphics cards, the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, might face a major supply shortage. According to multiple sources within the industry, these high-demand GPUs could be difficult to acquire in the initial weeks of their release, leaving many gamers and enthusiasts scrambling to secure their purchases.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard whispers about potential supply constraints surrounding Nvidia’s new Blackwell architecture, and as we approach the release of the RTX 5000 series, more details are emerging. Let’s dive deeper into these latest stock rumors and discuss how they might impact the launch of the highly anticipated RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 GPUs.
The Latest Stock Rumors: RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 Faces Severe Shortage
According to Moore’s Law is Dead (MLID), a prominent YouTube channel known for gaming hardware leaks, the stock for both the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 will be more limited than anticipated. This fresh batch of rumors, which cites multiple industry sources, suggests that Nvidia’s launch stock for the RTX 5090, in particular, could be extremely thin, with some suppliers expecting as little as zero stock at launch.
MLID’s primary source, a distributor based in the United States, claimed that their organization would only receive around 20 units of the RTX 5080 during the first month of sales, expected in February. To put this into perspective, the same distributor received several hundred units of the RTX 4080 during its launch in 2022, so the amount allocated for the RTX 5080 could be a fraction of that. In fact, it’s speculated that only about 10% of the previous generation’s stock will be available for the new RTX 5080.
Meanwhile, when discussing the flagship RTX 5090, the situation appears even worse. According to this distributor, they are expecting no stock for the RTX 5090 at launch, a worrying sign for those eager to get their hands on Nvidia’s top-tier GPU.
Second and Third Sources Provide Additional Insights
Other industry insiders have shared similar reports. One source, which is reportedly from a US-based graphics card manufacturer, stated that their company would receive the same amount of RTX 5090 units as the RTX 3090. Remember, when the RTX 3090 was released, its stock was limited and sold out quickly due to high demand. The source further indicated that the RTX 5080 supply would be a fraction of that of the RTX 4080, estimating that it could range from 30% to 50% of the stock available for Nvidia’s mid-tier card.
In addition, another insider, based in the EU, confirmed that while the RTX 5090 will be “very rare,” the RTX 5080 is expected to have more “reasonable” stock levels, at least for the initial launch period. However, this could still mean a rush for the GPU, as demand for the RTX 5080 could outpace supply, leading to shortages despite what some sources are calling “acceptable” stock levels.
Impact of Supply Chain Issues on Nvidia’s Launch
These rumors about limited stock align with earlier reports suggesting that Nvidia’s RTX 5000 series could face significant supply challenges at launch. If true, this could lead to frustration among gamers, with many potentially finding it difficult to secure a unit of either the RTX 5090 or RTX 5080 in the first weeks after the release. This shortage could be exacerbated by continued disruptions in the global supply chain, which have affected the availability of semiconductor components and raw materials in recent years.
It’s also worth noting that these stock rumors mainly concern third-party Blackwell graphics cards. As of now, there’s no solid confirmation about the availability of Nvidia’s own Founders Edition RTX 5090 and 5080 cards. However, MLID also heard from a contact within Nvidia, who mentioned that the company has internally acknowledged that the Founders Edition RTX 5090 would not have a large number of units available at launch.
For comparison, Nvidia’s RTX 4090 Founders Edition, which launched last year, was readily available from the company’s employee store. This suggests that Nvidia may have made a strategic decision to prioritize certain models or markets for its latest graphics cards, potentially limiting availability of the Founders Edition in favor of other distribution channels.
Why Could Nvidia Limit RTX 5090 Stock?
The limited stock rumors might seem concerning, but there are some reasonable explanations behind Nvidia’s strategy. One theory is that Nvidia may choose to allocate a larger portion of its Blackwell GPU chips for purposes other than gaming, particularly in the growing field of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Nvidia’s GPUs are heavily utilized in AI research, and the company likely sees a more significant profit potential in selling these chips to AI-driven companies than in gaming.
In fact, the company’s focus on AI could explain why Nvidia isn’t rushing to flood the market with RTX 5090 GPUs, particularly since AMD’s upcoming RDNA 4-based GPUs are unlikely to pose much competition in the high-end GPU space. As a result, Nvidia might prefer to prioritize the production of chips that can drive greater returns in AI and other sectors rather than focusing solely on gaming hardware.
Another possibility is that Nvidia is being cautious about ramping up production of the RTX 5090 due to its premium pricing and niche appeal. Not everyone needs or can afford the high-performance RTX 5090, and Nvidia may be testing demand for the flagship card before committing to larger production runs.
The Potential Impact on Gamers and the Market
For gamers who are hoping to secure one of the new RTX 5000 GPUs, this news could be disheartening. In recent years, graphics card launches have been marred by supply shortages, scalpers, and inflated prices, especially during the high demand period for GPUs like the RTX 3000 series. If the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 suffer from similar issues, it could lead to a repeat of these frustrations.
Additionally, if Nvidia’s RTX 5080 is indeed more in-demand than the RTX 4080, it could lead to stock depletion within days or weeks of launch, leaving gamers scrambling to find a unit or paying inflated prices from resellers. This could make it especially challenging for those on a budget to purchase the card at retail prices.
On the other hand, if the RTX 5090 sees even less availability, the demand could spike even further, pushing up prices and increasing competition among buyers. For those looking to invest in the latest and greatest in gaming technology, these shortages could make it challenging to secure a GPU without significant effort and potential cost.
Conclusion: Is It Worth the Wait?
While these stock rumors paint a somewhat grim picture for the launch of the Nvidia RTX 5090 and 5080, it’s important to keep in mind that these are still rumors at this point. Multiple sources have provided similar reports, but there’s no official word from Nvidia on the exact supply numbers for these next-gen GPUs. The situation could change in the coming weeks as Nvidia finalizes its distribution plans.
For now, potential buyers should brace themselves for the possibility that securing one of these next-gen GPUs may not be as easy as hoped. If you’re set on getting a unit at launch, it might be worth staying alert for updates and tracking stock availability from trusted retailers. If not, waiting a bit longer could provide better opportunities to purchase without the hassle of dealing with a shortage or inflated prices.
Whether or not these supply chain issues will truly impact the market remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: the demand for Nvidia’s RTX 5000 GPUs will likely remain high, and those eager to upgrade their gaming rigs may need to act fast.