ASUS Ends Production of RTX 5070 Ti and 5060 Ti 16GB Due to 'End of Life' Status

Unlikely Return for Discontinued Models, Reveals Hardware Unboxed

According to a report by the YouTube channel Hardware Unboxed, NVIDIA has essentially halted the production of the RTX 5070 Ti and 5060 Ti 16GB graphics cards, owing to the ongoing shortage of memory components. In one of their recent analyses, the channel disclosed that ASUS has clearly communicated the current supply issues affecting the RTX 5070 Ti. Consequently, ASUS has officially designated this model as reaching its 'end of life' phase, with no future manufacturing planned.

During discussions with Australian traders, Hardware Unboxed learned that the 5070 Ti is no longer found among the offerings from partners and distributors. This situation is projected to persist, at least through the first quarter of the year. ASUS also affirmed that it would cease production of the 5060 Ti 16GB model. These 16GB GPUs have become expensive to produce amidst current economic challenges. Any probability that either of them might be relaunched within the year seems minimal, as the channel indicates a comeback is not expected. NVIDIA is reportedly realigning its focus towards 8GB models, such as the RTX 5050, 5060, and 5060 Ti 8GB, while keeping the 12GB 5070 available for the time being.

NVIDIA has yet to provide a statement in response to queries from Engadget, with ASUS's input also pending. Updates will be provided when there is feedback from these companies.

Impact of AI Industry on GPU Production

The rise of artificial intelligence has created an unyielding appetite for RAM and associated computer parts, particularly from companies that run data center infrastructures. This demand has driven memory producers to pivot their production lines toward high-bandwidth memory, primarily to meet the needs of these particular clients, often sacrificing their traditional offers. This shift has resulted in soaring prices for consumer RAM kits, graphics cards, and SSDs. In response, Micron Technology declared in December that it was redirecting its focus entirely towards serving AI industry's needs by phasing out its Crucial brand.

ASUS Commentary on Memory Shortage

ASUS stands as the first add-in board (AIB) partner for NVIDIA to offer commentary on the current memory supply issue. AIBs are entities responsible for assemblage of most graphics cards consumers purchase from NVIDIA and AMD. Traditionally, NVIDIA has equipped these partners with the necessary GPU die and memory. However, a recent rumor suggests that these partners might soon be expected to independently source memory components.

Challenges for PC Enthusiasts

For gaming aficionados, the discontinuation of the 5070 Ti and 5060 Ti 16GB models spells disappointing news. Today's AAA game titles often require more than 8GB of VRAM, making 16GB graphics cards from both NVIDIA and AMD highly sought after when purchasing components for a new computer build or an upgrade to an existing system.