Nvidia and AMD graphics cards could become more expensive in August as rising GDDR memory costs reach board partners, putting pressure on already inflated retail prices for GeForce RTX 50-series and Radeon RX 9000-series models. Gizmodo, citing supply-chain reports from BenchLife and Board Channels, reports that both vendors may raise the price of the GPU-and-memory bundles sold to add-in-board manufacturers.
That would not be a new GPU MSRP announcement so much as a cost increase moving through the channel. Companies such as Asus, Gigabyte, MSI, Sapphire and XFX can absorb some of it, but a sustained increase in chip-and-memory bundle pricing typically lands on retail shelves once existing inventory is exhausted.
BenchLife’s report says Nvidia’s latest adjustment reportedly covers both GDDR7, used by the RTX 50 family, and GDDR6. The latter matters beyond legacy GeForce inventory: AMD’s current Radeon RX 9000-series cards also use GDDR6, removing one of the advantages that had helped Radeon options remain comparatively close to their original price bands.
The reporting does not establish a universal percentage increase or a timetable for every board maker. It does, however, describe a supply-chain problem rather than a temporary retailer markup. For buyers, that distinction matters: a one-off sale can correct itself, while higher component costs tend to establish a new floor for partner-card pricing.
According to reporting relayed by VideoCardz, AMD had reportedly delayed a further AIB pricing change while Nvidia’s plans were unresolved. Gizmodo says AMD was contacted for comment but had not confirmed the reported increase at publication time. Nvidia has likewise not publicly outlined a broad retail-price adjustment.
That leaves the reporting in the credible but unconfirmed category. It is a warning about new shipments, not proof that every card listed online will immediately jump in price on August 1.
The RTX 5070 Ti’s $749 launch price and the RX 9070 XT’s $599 launch price remain useful reference points, but they are not guarantees of real-world availability. If memory costs continue to rise, the less expensive 12GB and 16GB cards may be the most consequential part of the market—not the halo-tier RTX 5090—because they determine whether a new Windows gaming PC remains attainable at all.
GDDR7 is not the only exposure
BenchLife’s report says Nvidia’s latest adjustment reportedly covers both GDDR7, used by the RTX 50 family, and GDDR6. The latter matters beyond legacy GeForce inventory: AMD’s current Radeon RX 9000-series cards also use GDDR6, removing one of the advantages that had helped Radeon options remain comparatively close to their original price bands.The reporting does not establish a universal percentage increase or a timetable for every board maker. It does, however, describe a supply-chain problem rather than a temporary retailer markup. For buyers, that distinction matters: a one-off sale can correct itself, while higher component costs tend to establish a new floor for partner-card pricing.
AMD’s value pitch faces the same memory squeeze
AMD entered this generation with aggressive pricing around the Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT, which launched at $549 and $599 respectively with 16GB of GDDR6. The newer Radeon RX 9070 GRE, released globally in June for $549, uses 12GB of GDDR6 instead—a configuration that illustrates how valuable memory capacity has become even in the upper midrange.According to reporting relayed by VideoCardz, AMD had reportedly delayed a further AIB pricing change while Nvidia’s plans were unresolved. Gizmodo says AMD was contacted for comment but had not confirmed the reported increase at publication time. Nvidia has likewise not publicly outlined a broad retail-price adjustment.
That leaves the reporting in the credible but unconfirmed category. It is a warning about new shipments, not proof that every card listed online will immediately jump in price on August 1.
The upgrade decision gets less forgiving
For Windows gamers and workstation users, the immediate practical implication is straightforward: do not assume waiting automatically improves GPU value this cycle. Compare the exact card, memory capacity, warranty and retailer rather than relying on a launch MSRP that may no longer reflect available stock.The RTX 5070 Ti’s $749 launch price and the RX 9070 XT’s $599 launch price remain useful reference points, but they are not guarantees of real-world availability. If memory costs continue to rise, the less expensive 12GB and 16GB cards may be the most consequential part of the market—not the halo-tier RTX 5090—because they determine whether a new Windows gaming PC remains attainable at all.
References
- Primary source: Gizmodo
Published: 2026-07-31T14:55:05+00:00
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