NVIDIA's RTX 50-series graphics cards got off to a slow start when they launched in 2025, experiencing supply shortages, spiking prices, and general disbelief in the massive advancements afforded by DLSS 4 and the Multi Frame Generation feature exclusive to the new Blackwell architecture.
While a lot of PC gamers have now been able to get their hands on one of NVIDIA's latest consumer GPUs — prices have been dropping consistently over time to the point where you can sometimes find them for less than MSRP — others have been waiting for a mid-generation RTX 50-series refresh to spend their money.
I'm talking about the SUPER lineup, an upgrade that NVIDIA usually releases about a year after the standard cards are released.
Although NVIDIA hasn't ever officially mentioned a SUPER refresh for its Blackwell GPUs, many have been holding onto their money in the hopes that the new cards will be announced soon.
Those plans might have just been dashed, although this rumor has a good chance of turning out to be false.
[rumor]due to the crazy shortage recently, 3gb gddr7 cant make it to the consumer market for desktop, thus the super series is cancelled.and the current models are expected to be more expensive very soon, because of the increasing cost of 2gb gddr7. pic.twitter.com/yMSMj1MjqJNovember 7, 2025
According to a post from the UNIKO's Hardware X account (via Videocardz), the SUPER refresh is cancelled "due to the crazy shortage" of 3GB GDDR7 memory modules.
There is indeed a severe shortage of both NAND and DRAM due to the global AI demand. All of those specialized AI GPUs and their data center support system require the same stuff that goes into our beloved consumer GPUs, creating a bottleneck in the supply chain.
Whether or not that bottleneck is serious enough to halt an entire mid-generation refresh from the foremost GPU supplier in the world remains to be seen. It's a rumor at best, but it's still causing some panic.
One of the big reasons that many people have been waiting on NVIDIA's RTX 50 SUPER lineup has to do with VRAM, or a lack thereof in the non-SUPER cards.
Because NVIDIA chose to use 2GB GDDR7 modules in the RTX 50-series (except for the desktop RTX 5050 that uses GDDR6), VRAM amounts are considered underwhelming by many.
The RTX 5060, for example, has just 8GB of VRAM, which simply isn't enough in 2025 to handle the massive demands from many modern titles. A move to 3GB GDDR7 modules would, of course, allow NVIDIA to pack more VRAM into its SUPER GPUs.
UNIKO surmises that the DRAM stock is "probably reserved" for both RTX 5090 Laptop and RTX Pro 6000 cards, which make a lot more money than the mid-range GPU lineup. The Pro 6000, for example, is currently discounted by $650 at Newegg, bringing the total down to ... $8,345.99.
Are GPU prices about to spike again?
Tacked onto the UNIKO's Hardware post is a warning that current models are also about to get a lot more expensive due to rising costs of 2GB GDDR7 modules.
The global AI buildout really can't get enough memory, and because the business is so much more lucrative than the consumer GPU market, it's not a far stretch to think that NVIDIA would rather put any memory it can get its hands on into AI infrastructure.
Although I can't say for sure whether or not the memory shortage will get bad enough to drive up prices on current NVIDIA GPUs, it's currently not the worst time to consider investing in new hardware.
I purchased the RTX 5070 Ti above MSRP earlier this year, and I haven't regretted my decision. All it took was some testing of Multi Frame Generation in DOOM: The Dark Ages to convince me that the card is the real deal.
Now that many models have returned to MSRP, and with Black Friday/Cyber Monday headed our way in a few short weeks, this might be one of the last chances to get a Blackwell card at a reasonable price.
FAQ
What are NVIDIA's SUPER graphics cards?
NVIDIA's SUPER cards are designed to offer superior performance across the board, and with the prospect of more VRAM (an especially touchy subject for the 8GB RTX 5060), they're definitely worth waiting for. That is, if they're ever coming at all.
Are GPU prices about to rise?
It's hard to say as we're working with rumors, but it is true that the AI buildout is gobbling up memory like never before. Considering how much more money stands to be made from AI and from NVIDIA's high-end GPUs, it's not hard to see why the supply of RAM for the more affordable consumer cards could dry up.
Can I buy an NVIDIA GPU below MSRP?
Yes, as it stands now, you can find several of NVIDIA's RTX 50-series GPUs for less than MSRP. I've included two MSI options above available at Newegg that are on sale with Black Friday price protection enabled.
Is Black Friday a good time to buy a new GPU?
Some years, the Black Friday GPU deals are lacking. Other years, they're too good to pass up. Your guess is as good as mine, but considering Black Friday is only three weeks away (it officially lands on November 28) and the discounts have already begun at various retailers, it can't hurt to take a look at what's available.
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