Nvidia RTX 5060 Series Facing Potential Delays Amidst Geopolitical Concerns and Supply Chain Woes
The eagerly anticipated arrival of Nvidia’s lower-end graphics cards, the GeForce RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Ti, may be pushed back further than expected. Gamers and PC enthusiasts hoping to snag these cards in the coming weeks might need to exercise more patience, as whispers of potential delays circulate throughout the tech industry. Initial expectations pointed towards a March release, but recent rumors suggest that the RTX 5060 series might not surface until mid-April, or even mid-May, due to a confluence of factors, including persistent supply chain challenges and broader geopolitical uncertainties.
According to forum posts first brought to light by Videocardz, Nvidia has reportedly informed its partner graphics card manufacturers of a one to two-month delay for the RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Ti. The information stems from a post on Board Channels, a forum populated by individuals with close ties to various graphics card makers. The post specifically mentions that the RTX 5060 Ti, in both its 16GB and 8GB VRAM configurations, is now slated for a mid-April launch at the earliest. Meanwhile, the more affordable RTX 5060 could be delayed until mid-May, leaving budget-conscious gamers in a state of anticipatory limbo.
While these reports remain unconfirmed, the lack of any concrete announcements regarding Nvidia’s lower-end graphics cards during the recent GTC 2025 conference lends credence to the possibility of a delay. The absence of even a teaser or vague timeline for the RTX 5060 series suggests that Nvidia may be grappling with unforeseen hurdles in its production or distribution processes. As a result, consumers are left in the dark regarding pricing, specifications, and availability, relying instead on leaked information and speculation.
Nvidia’s ongoing struggles with inventory management further compound the concerns surrounding the RTX 5060 series launch. The company has been grappling with significant stock shortages across its entire Blackwell series, including the high-end RTX 5090, RTX 5080, RTX 5070 Ti, and even the lower-end RTX 5070. This scarcity has driven up prices, with some retailers in the U.S. selling cards for $100 to $200 above the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP).
To combat scalpers and ensure that genuine gamers have a chance to acquire these coveted graphics cards, Nvidia has implemented a "priority access" system, essentially a raffle that grants verified members of the official Nvidia forums the opportunity to purchase limited stock. However, this measure falls short of addressing the broader issue of supply shortages, leaving the majority of customers struggling to obtain the desired cards.
Nvidia is not alone in facing these challenges. AMD, with its recent Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT, has also encountered difficulties with low stock levels and inflated prices. Yeston, a prominent add-in card manufacturer, has informed its customers that Radeon stocks are expected to stabilize after April, indicating that the supply chain bottlenecks are affecting multiple players in the graphics card market.
The tech industry as a whole appears to be grappling with a wave of delays, as evidenced by recent announcements from other major companies. Google recently unveiled details about its upcoming mid-range phone, the Pixel 9a, only to retract the announcement and postpone the release due to a "component quality issue." Similarly, Nothing, the makers of the highly anticipated Nothing 3a Pro, has reportedly delayed preorders for its upcoming flagship smartphone, citing high demand as the reason for the setback.
While there is no definitive confirmation that these delays are directly attributable to the ongoing Trump tariffs on imports from China, the potential impact of these trade barriers cannot be discounted. Companies have openly acknowledged the complexities introduced into their supply chains by the former president’s executive orders. Although big tech companies might hesitate to directly attribute delays to political factors, the intricate web of international trade and the potential for retaliatory measures could be indirectly contributing to the current supply chain disruptions.
The ongoing challenges in the graphics card market underscore the fragility of global supply chains and the potential impact of geopolitical events on the availability of consumer electronics. As Nvidia and its competitors navigate these complexities, gamers and PC enthusiasts can only hope that the supply shortages will ease and that the RTX 5060 series will eventually reach the market at reasonable prices. Until then, patience and vigilance will be key for those seeking to upgrade their gaming rigs with these highly anticipated graphics cards. The coming weeks will undoubtedly provide further clarity on the timeline for the RTX 5060 series launch, as Nvidia and its partners strive to overcome the current hurdles and deliver these much-needed GPUs to eager consumers. The tech world will be watching closely, hoping for a resolution that brings stability and affordability back to the graphics card market.
