The computer components market is facing a new wave of shortages reminiscent of the tumultuous times during the cryptocurrency mining boom. Retailers in the European Union are sounding the alarm: they physically cannot obtain Nvidia graphics cards for sale to end consumers.
According to data published by an electronics store owner on Reddit, distributors have begun unilaterally canceling already paid wholesale orders. The mid-range segment (RTX 5070) has introduced strict quotas. A store is allowed to purchase no more than five video cards of one model, and all applications beyond this limit are automatically canceled. The high-end segment (RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5080, RTX 5090) faces a disastrous situation. The distributor officially notified the retailer that there are no units of these video cards in stock for shipment. Orders for these models have been completely canceled. As proof, screenshots of correspondence and receipts were presented. In particular, an order totaling over 5,400 euros ($5,752) was canceled, which included Zotac RTX 5070 Solid cards and laptops. The retailer notes that they managed to “negotiate” only an RTX 5070 batch worth 20,000 euros ($21,332), but models like the Gainward Phoenix or MSI Ventus in more powerful configurations are unavailable.
Reports indicate that even Amazon Business has introduced “strict limitations” on the number of cards purchased for resale.
Meanwhile, competing graphics cards, such as the Radeon RX 9070 XT, are still appearing in stocks, but retailers warn that it may not last long. It is expected that AMD will also face supply constraints in the very near future. Additionally, a price increase for the RX 9000 series is anticipated soon.
The AI boom is cited as the main reason for the disappearance of cards from the shelves. High-performance graphics chips are being massively purchased by IT giants and startups for training neural networks, leaving gamers with only scraps at inflated prices.
