Nvidia Rewarms RTX 2060, GTX 1050 Ti Amidst GPU Shortage

GeForce RTX 2060
GeForce RTX 2060 (Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

When you can't supply enough of the latest and greatest graphics cards to the market, it's time to heat up some of the old-time bestsellers. Nvidia has confirmed to PCWorld that the company is effectively resupplying older Turing and Pascal GPUs to its board partners to rekindle the GeForce RTX 2060 and GTX 1050 Ti. With this measure, Nvidia hopes to cushion the ongoing graphics card shortage.

There are two specific GeForce graphics cards that are in the conversation: the more recent GeForce RTX 2060 and the four-year old GTX 1050 Ti. It's easy to understand why Nvidia strategically chose the aforementioned models if we take a quick look at the latest Steam Hardware & Software Survey

Despite launching in 2014, the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti has continued to be a fan favorite on Steam. The Pascal-based graphics card currently ranked second on the Steam charts with a 7.07% utilization rate. The GeForce RTX 2060, on the other hand, is in the fifth position with an usage base of 3.72%.

Besides being popular choices among gamers, the GeForce RTX 2060 and GTX 1050 Ti are on older process nodes, meaning that are cheaper to produce. With the recent rumor of a GDDR6 shortage, the GeForce RTX 1050 Ti would help alleviate the pressure on Nvidia's GDDR6 inventory. Furthermore, the two GeForce graphics cards aren't attractive for cryptocurrency miners so it is more likely they will get into the hands of the average person.

The GeForce RTX 2060 and GTX 1050 Ti debuted at $349 and $139, respectively. However, it's unclear what prices we will see them at now. Custom GeForce RTX 2060 graphics cards are presently selling for between $700 and $1,200, while the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti is going for $200 to $700. The graphics cards are in stock at a few retailers now, implying that Nvidia's restock has already started. However, we don't know just how much supply Nvidia is providing to its partners to see whether it'd would impact the current pricing. Additionally, the focus falls on the retailers on whether they are willing to sell the GeForce RTX 2060 and GTX 1050 Ti at reasonable prices.

Zhiye Liu
News Editor and Memory Reviewer

Zhiye Liu is a news editor and memory reviewer at Tom’s Hardware. Although he loves everything that’s hardware, he has a soft spot for CPUs, GPUs, and RAM.

  • bigdragon
    Nvidia: Why try to stop cryptominers and scalpers when it's easier to just downgrade gamers?

    Thanks, Nvidia. PC gamers everywhere sure appreciate being stuck in the past. /s
    Reply
  • hotaru.hino
    The 2060 to me makes sense, but not the 1050, unless there's an issue attaining GDDR6 modules (though there is a GDDR5 version of the 1650).
    Reply
  • Jesse_20
    GDRR-6 modules ARE in shortage actually, among many other things related to GPU/CPU manufacturing. It's not just the FABS that are at a premium, it's the components that go into them to make the cards/chips that are shorting out now.
    Only good news I see here is I may be able to sell my used 2060 for more than I bought it for if I can score a 3000 series soon.
    Reply
  • kal326
    So just a RTX2060? Not even a RTX 2060 Super? Is the extra 2GB of DDR 6 going to really make or break it? Or is it the higher CUDA core die that's the issue I wonder. Either way if we are going to put some items back into production, why not just drop one revision back instead of this?
    Reply
  • blacknemesist
    Its great to see nvidia cashing in hard on anything they sell. $2500 for the cheapest 3090? Yes please! A 3080 cost almost as must as the MRSP of a 3090! Hell yes!

    God damn crypto crap, hope it crashes and burns all those "easy money" numb nuts.
    Reply
  • blacknemesist
    kal326 said:
    So just a RTX2060? Not even a RTX 2060 Super? Is the extra 2GB of DDR 6 going to really make or break it? Or is it the higher CUDA core die that's the issue I wonder. Either way if we are going to put some items back into production, why not just drop one revision back instead of this?

    You missed the best part : the 2060 currently goes for 700$-1200$, thats at minimum almost a 3080 and at most half-way to a 3090.
    DON'T BUY ANYTHING AT THESE PRICES, ITS INSANE
    Reply
  • King_V
    Re GDDR6 - this was specifically mentioned in the article:
    With the recent rumor of a GDDR6 shortage, the GeForce RTX 1050 Ti would help alleviate the pressure on Nvidia's GDDR6 inventory.
    Reply
  • spongiemaster
    blacknemesist said:
    Its great to see nvidia cashing in hard on anything they sell. $2500 for the cheapest 3090? Yes please! A 3080 cost almost as must as the MRSP of a 3090! Hell yes!

    Nvidia doesn't get a percentage cut of these inflated prices. The scalpers are making more off of each Nvidia GPU than Nvidia themselves are.
    Reply
  • Phaaze88
    Ok, let's all buy one of these cards and start mining on it...
    ¯\(ツ)


    If enough of us do it, it'll make mining less profitable.
    ...
    That just got me thinking: The whole crypto thing is just another Ponzi Scheme, isn't it?
    The ones who jumped on early are the ones who benefit the most. But as more and more people adopt it, the value tanks, and if adoption spreads enough, then the darn coins won't be worth jack-all.

    They weren't meant to be widely adopted...
    Reply
  • coxbw
    Great more BOT food
    Reply