NVIDIA is now reported to have "artificially" suppressed inventory levels in the retail segment, as a move to market its RTX 50 GPUs, by giving the impression that they are in hot-demand.
NVIDIA Is Artificially Holding Back The Inventory Of RTX 50 Series GPUs, Mid-Range Models Will Feature Way Better Availability
Well, it won't be wrong to say that Team Green's RTX 50 series GPU lineup is one of the most troublesome launches since the firm has messed up in several aspects. During the initial launch days, we saw NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5090 showing single-digit inventory figures across several retailers, which controls the supply and does not release it; meant that supply wasn't enough to sustain the demand, which was indeed driven by scalpers and those looking to get their hands on something high-end. However, this low inventory level isn't a result of NVIDIA not producing GPUs, but rather something else.
“Actually, the reason why the NV 50 series graphics cards are out of stock in the market is that NV is engaging in scarcity marketing. The GPU inventory is completely sufficient, but NV is controlling the supply and not releasing it, thereby creating an impression of shortage. In… pic.twitter.com/njk4b9lB4x
— Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) February 22, 2025
It is claimed that Team Green is involved in "scarcity marketing" (via @Jukanlosreve), which basically means that it has dropped inventory levels available in the markets massively, providing the perception that the RTX 50 series is in huge demand. Not only this, but with lower SKUs in the markets, this means that price will surely drive higher, and ultimately, this move is terrible for the end consumer, who is forced to acquire GPUs at inflated prices, but for NVIDIA, well they are selling a lot less SKUs.
Moreover, it is claimed that NVIDIA's upcoming mid-end GeForce RTX 50 GPUs, notably from the 60-class and 70-class lineup, will come with high inventory levels, and while this hasn't happened with the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, which by the way, is retailing for two times above its MSRP at some retailers. We recently reported on how the GeForce RTX 5060/RTX 5070 might see a delay into April/May, and one big reason for this might be that the inventory levels will be high with these models.
The bigger question here is what's happening with NVIDIA's RTX Blackwell launch. Firstly, we saw horrible inventory, and now, the missing ROP count issue has extended into almost all the GPU models from Team Green, suggesting that the problem has deteriorated. We are looking for more clarity from NVIDIA, but based on what we are seeing, things are not looking good.
About the author: Muhammad Zuhair is a hardware and technology reporter for Wccftech, specializing in the semiconductor industry and the complex interplay between technology, manufacturing, and geopolitics. His coverage focuses on the corporate strategies and technological roadmaps of industry giants like TSMC, NVIDIA, Samsung, and Intel. Zuhair's expertise lies in deconstructing complex topics such as fabrication nodes (e.g., 2nm process), the economic impact of policies like the CHIPS Act, and the strategic development of AI infrastructure from NVIDIA, AMD and Intel.
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