Nvidia reportedly halts RTX 5090 production to prioritize AI and professional GPUs

Nvidia has reportedly stopped manufacturing the GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card, including the "D" variants designed for the Chinese market. The claim originates from a leaked factory notice shared by leaker @hongxing2020 and reported by Tom's Hardware. A second leaker, @Zed__Wang, corroborated the report, stating that the GB202 chip powering the RTX 5090 will now be used exclusively for data center and professional graphics cards.

Shift to Professional and AI Markets

According to the leaked notice, "Nvidia will no longer manufacture any RTX 5090 models, including the D variants." The message further states, "Going forward, the highest-end GeForce graphics card will be the RTX 5080 24GB, while the RTX 5080 16GB version will be discontinued."

Tom's Hardware notes that this move makes economic sense for Nvidia, as the GB202 processor can be sold in professional cards that command significantly higher prices than the consumer GeForce RTX 5090. For instance, the recently introduced RTX Pro 5500 features the same number of CUDA cores—21,760—as the RTX 5090 but includes 84GB of GDDR7 memory compared to the RTX 5090's 32GB. The fully-fledged RTX 6000 Pro, with 24,064 CUDA cores and 96 GB of memory, can sell for $15,000.

By discontinuing GB202-based GeForce products, Nvidia may be preventing its consumer cards from competing with its own professional accelerators in the lucrative AI sector. This strategy redirects limited semiconductor manufacturing capacity toward higher-margin products.

Impact on Consumer Availability and Pricing

While the production halt is reported, Nvidia has not officially confirmed the change. Tom's Hardware stated that the company had not responded to its request for comment. However, the discontinuation could lead to a supply drought for the RTX 5090, potentially driving up prices for remaining inventory.

Club386 reports that current listings for the RTX 5090 have reached $7,178, a 259% increase from the card's original $1,999 MSRP. Earlier this year, some models were pushing beyond $5,090. Wccftech also notes that the RTX 5090 has reached prices "north of $6000," reflecting the broader impact of the global memory shortage.

Future GeForce Lineup

In place of the RTX 5090, Nvidia is rumored to be preparing an RTX 5080 24GB model. Club386 reports that Tech outlet Benchlife indicates Nvidia plans to launch the RTX 5080 24GB in Q1 2027, potentially at CES 2027. However, board partners have reportedly not received detailed information beyond the intent to launch in that period.

The rumored RTX 5080 24GB may serve as a replacement for the discontinued 16GB version. Wccftech suggests this model could use 3 GB GDDR7 modules instead of the 2 GB modules in the original RTX 5080 16GB. The current RTX 5080 16GB has an MSRP of $999 but retails between $1,499 and $1,999. The 24GB version is expected to cost between $1,999 and $2,999.

Why it matters

The reported halt in RTX 5090 production highlights the tension between consumer gaming hardware and the high-demand AI and professional markets. As memory shortages continue to affect the industry, Nvidia's decision to prioritize higher-margin professional cards could reshape the high-end consumer GPU landscape, leaving gamers with fewer options and higher prices for flagship hardware.

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Sources

• gamesindustry.biz: Nvidia reportedly ends GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card production | GamesIndustry.biz
• gamedev.net: Nvidia reportedly ends GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card production | GameDev.net
• tomshardware.com: Nvidia reportedly halts GeForce RTX 5090 production in favor of AI data center and professional GPUs — impending supply drought expected to drive up prices, RTX 5080 24GB rumored as new gaming flagship | Tom's Hardware
• club386.com: Nvidia reportedly discontinues GeForce RTX 5090, but may launch RTX 5080 24GB | Club386
• basic-tutorials.com: RTX 5090 on the Way Out: Nvidia Reportedly to Halt Production and Offer Gamers an RTX 5080 with 24 GB - Basic Tutorials
• wccftech.com: NVIDIA Reportedly Axes RTX 5090 Production, Diverting GB202 Chips To PRO Cards As Gamers Get An RTX 5080 24 GB

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.