The graphics card market is going through a period of unprecedented turmoil, but you already know that. While entry-level and mid-range models are creeping dangerously close to $1,000, it’s the RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB that’s making headlines. This model, which launched last year at a price of $429, is seeing its prices skyrocket on online retail platforms.
A significant price increase has recently been observed on Newegg. Custom versions of the RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB are now listed there for around $800 or even more. Some models, such as the MSI RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB Ventus Edition, are even approaching the $1,000 mark. This situation stands in stark contrast to the $429 launch price set by NVIDIA for this product.
The GDDR7 memory shortage is driving up prices
Obviously, we all agree that this price inflation is directly linked to manufacturers’ difficulty in securing a supply of memory at competitive prices. NVIDIA reportedly informed its AIB partners of a price increase for the graphics card-memory bundle, leading to an immediate rise in card prices among major manufacturers such as Gigabyte, ASUS, and MSI. As a direct result, the price difference between the 8GB and 16GB versions of the RTX 5060 Ti is becoming hard to justify. On Newegg, the 8 GB RTX 5060 Ti is priced around $450, while the cheapest 16 GB model (MSI RTX 5060 Ti SHADOW 2X OC PLUS) is listed at $779.99. This represents an additional cost of $330—a 73% increase over the 8GB version—even though both use the same GB206 GPU. Originally, adding 8GB of GDDR7 was supposed to cost about $50 more. Today, that gap has widened considerably. The 16 GB model is now priced more than 82% above its starting price of $429.
The RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB Exceeds the Price of the RTX 5070
The situation is even more troubling in the United Kingdom, where the 16 GB RTX 5060 Ti briefly exceeded the price of the RTX 5070 at some retailers. The 5070 models are available there for around £600, virtually eliminating any price gap between the two series. This dynamic reverses the usual logic: it is no longer the graphics card that dictates the price, but the memory. This cost increase is also impacting direct competitors, such as the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB, whose prices could be affected by this new market reality. NVIDIA has not yet confirmed or explained these price increases. The company has not responded to requests for comment regarding these price changes that have occurred in recent weeks.
