NVIDIA Shifts Focus to 16 GB Version of RTX 5060 Ti as 8 GB Edition Struggles in Sales
According to a report from Gazlog, NVIDIA has begun taking strategic measures to address the widening gap in demand between the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB and 16 GB editions. The company has reportedly instructed its AIC partners (Add-in Card manufacturers) to limit shipments of the 8 GB model to distributors and retailers due to sluggish sales, while prioritizing production and promotion of the 16 GB version, which continues to sell much better.
The move comes as the RTX 50 series stabilizes in global availability, with most RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB models now retailing close to their MSRP. The 8 GB variant, however, has failed to gain traction among gamers, especially since the 16 GB edition costs only around 70 USD more, offering significantly greater longevity and performance in memory-intensive games.
Compounding the issue, AMD’s Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB is priced at roughly the same level as the RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB, making NVIDIA’s smaller memory model an unattractive option for most buyers. As a result, many retailers and partners have seen stagnant inventory of the 8 GB cards, prompting NVIDIA to curb further distribution to avoid an oversupply situation.
The market shift highlights a growing trend among gamers and content creators: VRAM capacity is now a key factor in GPU purchasing decisions. With modern AAA titles regularly exceeding 8 GB of VRAM usage, especially at 1440p and above, cards with lower memory capacities are becoming increasingly unappealing.
The report further indicates that while AIBs (Add-in-Board manufacturers) still hold considerable 8 GB inventory, NVIDIA’s new policy will encourage them to push the 16 GB edition through targeted promotions and controlled allocation. The company aims to balance its supply chain to ensure that retail shelves do not become clogged with unsold stock.
Interestingly, this shift mirrors similar trends seen across the industry. Even AMD’s RX 9060 XT 8 GB, which performs comparably to the RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB, is reportedly struggling to sell despite being available at sub-300 USD price points. It appears the era of 8 GB “mainstream” GPUs may finally be coming to an end as developers continue to raise memory requirements for next-generation games.
For consumers, this means prices for the RTX 5060 Ti 8 GB are unlikely to fall below MSRP anytime soon due to the restricted supply, effectively nudging buyers toward the 16 GB variant. From NVIDIA’s perspective, this strategy ensures better profitability and a smoother transition toward the higher-end segment of its Ada architecture lineup.
Do you think NVIDIA made the right call by shifting focus toward higher VRAM GPUs, or should the company have priced the 8 GB variant more competitively? Let us know what you think below.
