The consumer graphics card market is feeling the squeeze from the AI boom. Engadget reports that surging demand from AI data centers has drained memory supply, pushing up prices for VRAM, RAM, and SSDs. AMD has reportedly raised prices for board partners by $10 per 8GB of VRAM, and further percentage-based increases are expected.
Memory manufacturers such as Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron are prioritizing high-bandwidth memory sold to AI data centers, where margins are higher, leaving less GDDR memory for graphics cards. Nvidia has cut production of its 16GB RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5070 Ti to focus on 8GB models, which use less memory and can be produced in volume at more accessible prices.
For buyers, the advice is to purchase sooner rather than later. Engadget recommends 16GB as the minimum for a card that will remain viable for the next five years, noting that 8GB cards are already showing performance shortfalls in newer titles. With prices projected to keep rising, delaying a purchase is likely to cost more.