nvidia's rtx 50 series may face significant launch delays
Santa Clara, Monday, 20 January 2025.
NVIDIA is rumored to experience severe supply constraints for its new RTX 50 series graphics cards, expected to hit the market later this month. The challenges are reportedly due to issues in both production and logistics chains. This situation is anticipated to affect the availability of the high-performing RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 models, with the latter capped at 240 FPS in 4K resolution with full ray tracing. Leaks suggest extremely limited stock at launch, with specific stores receiving shipments in waves. This scenario could mirror past GPU releases from NVIDIA, where high demand met limited supply, driving prices beyond the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $1,999 for the RTX 5090. As gamers and investors watch closely, NVIDIA faces pressure to address these supply chain issues to meet expectations. The company’s overall market performance could be impacted by these anticipated shortages.
Supply chain disruptions emerge amid global tensions
As NVIDIA navigates complex international trade dynamics, supply chain challenges are intensifying. CEO Jensen Huang’s recent visits to China and Taiwan from January 15-16 [2][3] highlight the delicate balance NVIDIA must maintain. The company faces dual pressures with new U.S. export restrictions announced on January 13 [2] and an ongoing Chinese antitrust investigation [2]. These developments could further complicate the RTX 50 series launch, already constrained by production limitations [1].
Technical specifications and distribution strategy
The RTX 5090, NVIDIA’s flagship model, promises remarkable performance with 240FPS capabilities in 4K resolution with full ray tracing [1]. Priced at $1,999 MSRP, the distribution strategy involves a tiered release schedule [1]. According to leaker Pockerclock, major retailers like Amazon may not receive stock until several weeks after the initial launch [1]. NVIDIA plans to implement strict control over which stores receive the initial inventory [1].
Market implications and competitive landscape
The supply constraints come at a critical time for NVIDIA’s market position. Industry experts note that competitors like AMD, Microsoft, Apple, and Meta possess chip design capabilities [2]. According to Taiwan’s Economic Research Institute, if NVIDIA’s development becomes restricted or faces Chinese sanctions, suppliers might seek alternative partnerships [2]. This situation could affect NVIDIA’s dominance in the AI chip market, where maintaining stable supply chain relationships is crucial [2].