RTX 5070 Ti Discontinued Amid Global RAM Crisis

The global PC hardware market is facing a severe downturn as a memory supply crisis, driven by the AI boom, begins to cripple the graphics card industry. What was already a challenging year for gamers and PC builders has now escalated, with reports indicating that the RTX 5070 Ti has effectively been discontinued.

This development marks a significant turning point in the ongoing shortage. Previously, the crisis was largely confined to memory modules and flagship GPUs, but the discontinuation of a mid-range card suggests the problem has infiltrated the entire supply chain. For consumers, this translates to skyrocketing prices and dwindling availability for essential components.

According to reports from industry analysts, the RTX 5070 Ti has reached its end of life. A source at a major board partner claimed at CES 2026 that the company is unable to secure enough supply to continue shipping the card. The primary culprit is the 16GB of VRAM required by the GPU, which has become prohibitively expensive to source and manufacture.

With the more powerful RTX 5080 also utilizing the same 16GB memory allocation, manufacturers are likely prioritizing production of the higher-margin flagship card. This strategic shift leaves the mid-range 5070 Ti in a precarious position, effectively abandoning the market segment it was designed to serve.

Consequently, the card is not simply unavailable; it is becoming significantly more expensive. On major retail platforms, prices have surged dramatically since the news broke.

• Original MSRP: $749
• Current average price: $1,100+
• Availability: Extremely limited stock remains

The price inflation is not an isolated incident. The RTX 5070 Ti is now selling for prices similar to its initial launch window, despite being a previous-generation model. This trend indicates a structural shift in GPU pricing rather than temporary market fluctuations. Consumers looking for value in the mid-to-high-end range are finding their options severely restricted.

While entry-level cards like the RTX 5060 and RTX 5050 remain closer to their suggested retail prices, the upper echelon of the market is in turmoil. The RTX 5090, which launched at $1,999, now commands prices upwards of $4,500, assuming it can be found in stock at all.

Demand for GeForce RTX GPUs is strong, and memory supply is constrained. We continue to ship all GeForce SKUs and are working closely with our suppliers to maximize memory availability.

The situation suggests that even if the 5070 Ti is not officially canceled, the cost of production has risen enough to make it commercially unviable at its intended price point.

The root cause of this hardware crisis lies in the memory market. Since late 2025, RAM prices have exploded, with memory kits costing nearly four times what they did just months prior. This surge is directly attributed to the insatiable demand from AI data centers, which require vast quantities of high-speed memory to train large language models.

The crisis has become so severe that consumer-focused brands have been forced to shut down. Crucial, the consumer RAM brand of Micron, has reportedly ceased operations, signaling that manufacturers are pivoting entirely toward enterprise clients.

Industry analysts warn that this is not a short-term issue. Unlike previous cyclical shortages, the AI boom represents a fundamental change in memory consumption.

With AI we might see a structural change to how memory is consumed.

Experts predict the shortage could persist well into 2027 or 2028, meaning relief for PC builders is not on the immediate horizon.

The ripple effects of the memory shortage are now impacting product roadmaps. Reports indicate that Nvidia's mid-generation refresh, including the highly anticipated RTX 5080 Super, has been put on hold or canceled due to the inability to secure memory supply. This leaves the current generation of cards as the only option for the foreseeable future.

Furthermore, the RTX 5060 Ti, which also utilizes 16GB of VRAM, is rumored to be the next card facing potential discontinuation. If the trend continues, the market could be left with only low-end 8GB cards, effectively halting progress in 4K gaming and high-fidelity rendering for the average consumer.

Pre-built gaming PCs have so far been insulated from these price hikes due to bulk purchasing agreements, but that protection is likely temporary. If component costs continue to rise, the entry-level gaming PC market will inevitably shrink.

For consumers, the advice is stark: either purchase hardware immediately before prices climb further, or wait for the next generation of silicon, which is not expected until late 2026 or 2027.

The reported discontinuation of the RTX 5070 Ti serves as a canary in the coal mine for the PC hardware industry. It confirms that the AI-driven memory shortage is no longer a distant threat but an immediate reality reshaping the market. Gamers and creators must now navigate a landscape where availability is scarce and prices are decoupled from traditional MSRP metrics.

As manufacturers prioritize high-margin enterprise hardware, the consumer market faces a period of stagnation. The hope for a quick resolution has faded, replaced by the reality of a multi-year structural shortage. The era of affordable, high-performance PC gaming is currently on hold.