The gaming community is bracing for potential setbacks as new reports bring concerning news for PC enthusiasts. GPU manufacturers might soon pause the production of mid-to-high-end gaming GPUs. The cause? An ongoing shortage of memory.
Potential Production Halts by AMD and NVIDIA
Rumors are swirling that DRAM shortages could significantly impact gamers, extending beyond mere RAM supply constraints. Recent reports from Korean media suggest AMD and NVIDIA might “discontinue” their budget-friendly GPUs due to soaring BOM (Bill of Materials) costs driven by increased GDDR module prices. While specific SKUs aren’t mentioned, it’s speculated that NVIDIA’s ’60-class’ and ’50-class’ models could be most affected.
Memory prices have shockingly spiked in just weeks, leading to a supply chain scramble as firms enter a ‘panic buying’ phase. This shift is largely due to the global data center expansion consuming much of the DRAM production capacity. As a result, manufacturers are focusing on segments with higher returns on investment, potentially sidelining consumer GPUs with thinner profit margins.
Rising Prices and Industry Concerns
The situation is grim, with memory shortages severely impacting component pricing, particularly RAM modules which have seen a dramatic price hike. The impending impact on GPU prices is becoming a real possibility, with mainstream models potentially seeing significant price increases soon. Companies like ASUS have already aired their worries about consumer device price surges if DRAM shortages continue, and the outlook remains bleak.