Hardware Unboxed just dropped a bombshell: the RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5060 Ti 16GB models have reached end-of-life status. According to sources at Asus during CES 2026, Nvidia stopped supplying these midrange cards due to crippling GDDR7 memory shortages driving component costs through the roof. Retailers across US and Australia confirm no new stock incoming, with existing inventory as final shipments before permanent discontinuation.
The Memory Crisis Explained
AI data centers consumed global GDDR7 supply, pushing memory prices up 500% since RTX 50 launch. Nvidia prioritizes 16GB allocation to high-margin RTX 5080/5090 while midrange cards suffer. RTX 5070 Ti’s GB203 chip with 16GB GDDR7 became financially unviable at $749 MSRP when memory costs alone exceeded $200 per card.
RTX 5060 Ti 16GB faced identical fate despite lower $429 positioning. Retailers report distributors ceased orders weeks ago, confirming Hardware Unboxed intel. Production halt extends to all AIB partners – Asus, MSI, Gigabyte, Zotac – eliminating 16GB midrange entirely from RTX 50 lineup.
Nvidia and Asus Push Back
Both companies issued statements denying permanent discontinuation. Asus claims ‘temporary supply fluctuations due to memory constraints,’ while Nvidia confirms ‘continued shipment of all SKUs.’ Neither addresses retailer stock depletion or CES source confirmation, suggesting carefully worded corporate deflection.
Practical reality differs sharply. Newegg, Micro Center, and Australian distributors list RTX 5070 Ti out-of-stock indefinitely. Remaining inventory sells at 15-25% premiums. RTX 5060 Ti 16GB vanished faster due lower volume, leaving only 8GB model at $379.
Performance Impact Brutal
| Model | VRAM | MSRP | Status | 1440p Perf |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5070 Ti | 16GB | $749 | Discontinued | RTX 4080 level |
| RTX 5070 | 12GB | $599 | Available | 15% slower |
| RTX 5060 Ti | 16GB | $429 | Discontinued | RTX 4070 level |
| RTX 5060 Ti | 8GB | $379 | Available | VRAM limited |
RTX 5070 Ti delivered RTX 4080-class 1440p performance with future-proofing. RTX 5060 Ti 16GB matched RTX 4070 rasterization while dominating memory-intensive workloads. Both disappear overnight, forcing buyers toward 12GB RTX 5070 ($599) or VRAM-strapped 8GB alternatives.
What Killed These Cards
- GDDR7 Costs Exploded: $40→$200 per 16GB kit due AI demand
- Production Prioritization: Nvidia allocates scarce memory to 5080/5090
- Margin Pressure: Midrange cards unprofitable at MSRP
- Retailer Exhaustion: No new shipments since December 2025
RTX 50 Super series cancellation confirmed alongside 16GB cuts. Refreshed midrange planned 3GB GDDR7 modules never materialized due identical supply issues. Nvidia shifts entire lineup toward 8-12GB configurations until HBM3e production scales 2027.
Gamer Impact Immediate
1440p builders scramble for remaining stock. RTX 5070 12GB holds value at $599 but sacrifices VRAM headroom increasingly demanded by 2026 titles. AMD RX 9070 XT ($649) gains traction offering 16GB RDNA4, though ray tracing trails Nvidia significantly.
Used market erupts immediately. eBay RTX 5070 Ti listings climb 30% within hours. RTX 5060 Ti 16GB approaches unobtanium status. Budget builders stuck choosing 8GB compromises or jumping straight to $999 RTX 5080.
FAQs
Are these cards actually discontinued?
Yes per retailer confirmations despite manufacturer spin. No production resumes forecasted before 2027 memory normalization.
What should 1440p buyers do now?
RTX 5070 12GB offers best availability/value. Monitor used market carefully. AMD RX 9070 XT viable rasterization alternative.
Will prices crash on remaining stock?
Opposite occurring. Scarce inventory drives 20-40% premiums immediately. Act fast if finding retail stock.
RTX 50 Super series also dead?
Canceled entirely. 3GB GDDR7 modules unavailable, killing planned refreshes across lineup.
When does memory crisis end?
Mid 2027 earliest. AI demand structural, not cyclical. HBM3e prioritizes enterprise over gaming.
8GB cards sufficient replacement?
1440p barely. 4K impossible. Modern titles exceed 8GB regularly even medium settings.
Should I buy AMD instead?
RX 9070 XT beats rasterization, trails RT/DLSS significantly. Viable stopgap until Nvidia normalizes.
Brutal Reality Check
Gaming hardware enters scarcest era since cryptocurrency mining. Nvidia sacrifices midrange entirely chasing AI profits. Gamers pay premium for diminishing VRAM or settle 8GB obsolescence. RTX 5070 Ti/5060 Ti 16GB become collector items faster than RTX 3070 ever did.
Build now or forever hold salt. Memory crisis reshapes PC gaming fundamentally through 2028.