GeForce RTX 50 shortage pushes Chinese sellers to RTX 30 cards

Old models back in focus

The recommendations point mainly to the GeForce RTX 3060, which launched in 2021, and the GeForce RTX 3050, which arrived a year later. Both are expected to regain relevance, at least among Chinese distributors. The RTX 3060 had earlier been seen as a possible hope for cheaper gaming.

The report names two causes of the shortage: growing interest in cryptocurrency mining and the ongoing online shopping promotion season in China. Both are said to be boosting demand for graphics cards.

What it means for buyers

Distributors should not expect a quick return to earlier prices. ChannelGate says the older models may hold their current prices or even become slightly more expensive if demand keeps growing.

The report concerns the Chinese market, and it is unclear whether distributors elsewhere, including in Europe, have received similar advice. Still, shoppers outside China may feel the effects: stores in Poland already show noticeable price increases for RTX 50 cards, although there is no sign that the newest Nvidia cards will vanish from shelves soon.

For gamers, a return of cards that are several years old to sales recommendations is hardly good news. The RTX 3060 and RTX 3050 can no longer be treated as modern alternatives to the latest hardware.