GPU prices begin to rise as memory costs catch up with manufacturers, RTX 5070 Ti up to $150 more expensive
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GPU prices may be heading in the wrong direction again, and this time the reason is not mining hype or sudden demand spikes. Instead, rising memory costs are starting to catch up with manufacturers, and the impact is slowly showing up in retail prices. Over the past few months, RAM prices have gone up fast, mainly because of strong demand from AI data centers. And as a result, GPU prices are also increasing.
Earlier reports already hinted that AMD could raise GPU prices by around $40 due to higher memory costs. Now, it seems Nvidia is also being affected, as recent listings show that some RTX 50-series GPUs are becoming more expensive, even in regions where prices were usually stable or below MSRP.
RTX 50 series price rises begin to emerge in Japan
The RTX 5070 Ti originally launched in Japan at a high price, then slowly dropped well below its launch level after a few months. For a good while, buyers could get it at a much more reasonable price, even if it was still higher than prices in North America. That period now appears to be over. In just one week, the lowest price for the RTX 5070 Ti jumped by around 22,820 yen, which is close to a $150 increase.
Right now, only one specific model is selling at that lower new price point, while most other RTX 5070 Ti cards are listed even higher. This makes it much harder for buyers to find the GPU at a good deal. The situation is slightly better for the RTX 5070 (non-Ti model). Prices have lifted, though the increase has been slower and less severe. Even so, prices are increasing week by week, and it’s not clear how long it will take to affect the international market.
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In North America, the RTX 5070 is still available below MSRP at some retailers, which gives buyers a bit of breathing room. However, the RTX 5070 Ti is already becoming difficult to find at or below its suggested price.
The main reason behind all this is memory. GPUs rely on GDDR6 and GDDR7 memory (the RTX 50 series uses the latter), and shortages in these areas are starting to hurt supply chains. As manufacturers pay more for memory, those costs eventually reach consumers. It is a slow process, but once it starts, prices usually do not come back down quickly. For now, prices are not out of control in the United States, but the trend is clear. If memory costs keep rising, GPU prices will likely increase.
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