What Just Happened?

Last Thursday, popular YouTube channel Hardware Unboxed broke the news that Asus is pulling the plug on its RTX 5070 Ti graphics card. The company told the outlet that the model is now in “end‑of‑life” status because it can’t get enough memory chips to keep the product flowing. The same fate awaits Asus’s 16 GB RTX 5060 Ti, and shoppers in places like Australia are already feeling the pinch.

Why Memory Supply Is a Bottleneck

Modern GPUs need fast, high‑capacity video memory (VRAM) to render games at high resolutions and frame rates. The global shortage of GDDR6X chips—sparked by a surge in demand for everything from AI accelerators to gaming rigs—has left manufacturers scrambling. When the raw parts aren’t there, even a company as large as Asus has to make hard choices about which SKUs stay on the shelf.

Nvidia’s Take

Ben Berraondo, Nvidia’s director of global public relations for GeForce, confirmed that the chips themselves are still being produced. “Demand for GeForce RTX GPUs is strong, and memory supply is constrained,” he told The Verge. Nvidia says it will continue shipping all of its GeForce models, but the supply chain hiccup forces partners like Asus to adjust their line‑ups.

Impact on Gamers and Builders

For gamers, the news translates to higher prices and longer wait times. The RTX 5070 Ti was positioned as a sweet spot for 1440p and entry‑level 4K gaming, offering performance close to the flagship 5080 Ti but at a more affordable price tag. With Asus stepping back, the remaining inventory may disappear fast, and the few units that do exist could be scooped up by scalpers.

PC builders also feel the ripple. Many custom‑build guides recommend the RTX 5070 Ti as a balanced choice for mid‑range systems. Now, enthusiasts will need to either stretch to the pricier RTX 5080 Ti or settle for older cards like the RTX 3070 Ti, which may no longer deliver the same future‑proofing.

What This Means for the Market

The situation highlights how tightly linked the GPU ecosystem is to the semiconductor supply chain. Even though Nvidia can still fabricate the silicon, a shortage of supporting memory chips forces OEMs to cut models, reshaping the market landscape. Analysts predict that the scarcity could linger into late 2025, keeping prices elevated across the board.

Looking Ahead

While Asus has stopped the RTX 5070 Ti, the company says it will focus on other products that can be built with the memory currently available. Nvidia, meanwhile, is reportedly working with memory vendors to boost output, but those efforts will take months to bear fruit.

If you’re in the market for a new graphics card, the best advice is to act quickly, compare prices across retailers, and keep an eye on restock alerts. And for those who can wait, holding off may pay off once the memory supply eases and the market steadies.

Bottom Line

The RTX 5070 Ti’s disappearance is a clear signal that the global chip shortage is still reshaping the tech world. Gamers and builders must adapt, either by stretching budgets or by adjusting expectations until the supply chain catches up.