We all saw it coming, but it still doesn’t feel great. It seems that the RAM shortage that has us all mourning the not-so-terrible prices of a few months ago might now also open the door to a GPU shortage, and small GPU vendors will be hit the hardest.
Reputable leaker Golden Pig Upgrade Pack on Weibo (via VideoCardz) claims Nvidia is planning to stop bundling VRAM with its GPU dies.
Nvidia always supplied both the GPU and the VRAM to its add-in card (AIC) partners… well, potentially up until now. This made it easier for GPU manufacturers to stay on spec, but also removed the need for them to source DRAM directly from memory giants like Micron or Samsung. So, Nvidia took care of the VRAM and the GPU die, and the AIC did whatever they wanted with the rest of it, customizing the graphics card before selling it.
If Nvidia has indeed decided to only ship the GPU going forward, its board partners will now need to secure VRAM all on their own. Given how volatile normal memory pricing is right now, that could be a challenge for some brands.
The short supply of memory doesn’t just affect the RAM kits we stick in our PCs. It will extends to VRAM, too, with production being pointed towards data center stuff, subsequently ramping up prices and reducing availability.
The leaker says that this change will affect smaller AICs that don’t have prior connections with memory makers, effectively forcing them out of the GPU market. It’s easy to…
