What the Latest Rumor Says
Fresh reports circulating this week (December 17–20, 2025) claim NVIDIA may temporarily halt or significantly cut production of the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB model. According to original supply chain reports cited by Wccftech in their article “RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB Rumored To Be At Risk Of Discontinuation” and further analysis by Overclock3D on NVIDIA axing production due to price hikes, the company is actively adjusting its supply strategy for Q1 2026.
While the 8GB RTX 5060 Ti is expected to continue production because it requires fewer physical memory modules, Benchlife sources indicate that the limited supply of GDDR7 chips will likely be redirected to higher-margin SKUs like the RTX 5080.
Why the 16GB Version Matters
Launched recently on April 16, 2025, the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB quickly became the “sweet spot” for 1440p gaming (see TechPowerUp’s Launch Specs & Database). Modern titles frequently exceed 8GB of VRAM at Ultra settings, making the 16GB model essential for longevity.
Cutting the 16GB option creates a massive gap in the market. It forces gamers to choose between the VRAM-limited 8GB model or paying a premium (approx. $150+ more) for the RTX 5070, effectively eliminating the budget-friendly high-VRAM tier.
GDDR7 Memory Shortage Explained
The root cause, as detailed in PCMag’s report on Memory Shortages Squeezing RTX 50 Supply, is a bottleneck in GDDR7 production. Demand from AI accelerators and high-performance computing has outpaced the yield of high-density GDDR7 modules.
- The Issue: Producing a 16GB mid-range card consumes the same number of memory chips as some high-end cards but sells for a fraction of the profit.
- The Prediction: Supply chain analysis from Board Channels (via TechPowerUp) suggests overall RTX 50-series output could drop by 30–40% in the first half of 2026. Sources indicate the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB and RTX 5070 Ti will be the first victims of these cuts as NVIDIA prioritizes yield for the high-end segment.
Impact on Gamers and Prices
If these production cuts go into effect in Q1 2026, the market impact will be swift:
- Immediate Stockouts: Current inventory of the 16GB model will likely vanish by February.
- Price Inflation: Scalpers on secondary markets are expected to target remaining stock.
- Forced Upgrades: Budget-conscious 1440p gamers will be pushed into a higher pricing tier.
Best Alternatives if It Gets Cancelled
- Buy an RTX 5060 Ti 16GB Now: If you find one at MSRP, it may be your last chance before 2026 price hikes.
- AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB: AMD’s mid-range contender offers 16GB VRAM at a competitive price, though typically with weaker Ray Tracing performance.
- NVIDIA RTX 5070: A more expensive but safer long-term investment with guaranteed GDDR7 availability.
We will update this post as soon as NVIDIA or partners like ASUS and MSI comment officially.
