PC Partner warns that GPU supplies, especially entry-level models, are set to become more constrained in the second half of 2026, risking significant price increases across the market amid broader component shortages.
PC Partner, one of the largest contract manufacturers behind graphics cards from Zotac, Inno3D, Manli and Sapphire, has warned that the market for GPUs is likely to tighten further in the coming months. According to reporting in The Straits Times and Benchlife, the company expects supplies to become especially constrained in the second half of 2026, with entry-level cards likely to feel the pressure first.
That matters because the cheapest models have so far been the most resilient part of the market. But if shortages deepen, price rises are likely to spread down the range as well as up it. Benchlife said supply of Nvidia’s Blackwell-based RTX GPUs in the third quarter is already below second-quarter levels, and that availability at year-end may be tighter still. The bottlenecks are not limited to memory, either: longer lead times for printed circuit boards and power components are also being reported, which suggests the problem is broader than a single part category.
The timing is awkward for buyers. PC Gamer’s own price tracking shows how volatile the market has become, with cards such as the RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB and RTX 5070 now sitting at far higher prices than many gamers would expect from mid-range hardware. Higher-end models have fared even worse, and the latest reporting suggests there is no quick return to normal. TechSpot and Tom’s Hardware both note that PC Partner has pointed to rising memory costs and slower component supply as key drivers, while also indicating that average selling prices have risen sharply even as shipment volumes have fallen.
The warning is also significant because it is not only an Nvidia story. PC Partner manufactures for AMD-linked brands as well, including Sapphire, so a wider squeeze on parts could affect rival cards too. TechRadar has separately reported that memory shortages are feeding through into other PC hardware categories, including system RAM and monitors, which would make a broad consumer electronics price rise more likely. For PC gamers, the practical message is simple: affordable upgrade options may become scarcer, and not just at the top end.
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