Do you really need 16GB of VRAM on your graphics card, or can you get by with just 8GB? If recent leaks and industry chatter are accurate, that decision may soon be taken out of consumers’ hands entirely. Nvidia is reportedly prioritizing lower-memory models, and Asus may have already halted production of the 16GB RTX 5070 Ti altogether.
According to a post on the Chinese forum Board Channels, later reported by VideoCardz, Nvidia is cutting shipments of the 16GB versions of both the RTX 5060 Ti and the RTX 5070 Ti. This is particularly noteworthy because the higher-memory variants of these cards have generally been far better received. The 16GB RTX 5060 Ti has reviewed much more favorably than its 8GB counterpart, while the RTX 5070 Ti with more memory has been seen as a significantly stronger option than the standard 12GB RTX 5070.
This aligns with claims from YouTube channel Hardware Unboxed, which reports that graphics cards with 16GB of VRAM or more are becoming increasingly difficult to source. According to the channel, Asus—the largest Nvidia add-in-board partner—has explicitly stated that the RTX 5070 Ti is facing severe supply constraints and has effectively been moved to end-of-life status. In practical terms, this means Asus has no plans to manufacture additional RTX 5070 Ti units, and whatever stock remains on store shelves is all that will be available.
The timing is especially frustrating for PC gamers, as GPU prices had finally started to normalize. Just a few months ago, RTX 5070 Ti cards could be found below retail pricing during Black Friday sales. Now, the same models are pushing close to $1,000, more than $200 above their original MSRP. While none of these reports have been officially confirmed, Hardware Unboxed has a strong track record, lending credibility to the claims.
Several factors could be contributing to the situation. The ongoing global memory shortage is an obvious culprit, affecting consumer GPUs just as much as other hardware categories. Nvidia’s heavy involvement in the AI and data center markets also plays a role, as the company is likely diverting higher-value memory and silicon toward enterprise customers buying far more lucrative products. At CES, Nvidia announced six new data center chips, while consumer-facing announcements were notably minimal.
This trend is particularly concerning given that gamers have been hitting VRAM limits for years. As far back as 2022, Nvidia cancelled a planned 12GB RTX 4080, and concerns continue to grow about whether future platforms—such as a potential Steam Machine revival—can remain competitive with only 8GB of graphics memory. The same pressure is being felt across general computing, with laptop manufacturers considering a return to 8GB of system RAM for mid-range machines, even as real-world usage increasingly demands 16GB or more.
For buyers without a four-figure budget, it may soon be necessary to lower expectations around performance and longevity. In the current market, more memory is becoming a luxury once again—and PC gamers are feeling the squeeze.