Rumor has it that Nvidia has changed how it supplies its board partners with hardware to build AIB graphics cards. Nvidia is known to bundle its GPUs with memory to partners for a discounted price, but a rumor suggests this is no longer the case. If true, this would leave smaller manufacturers struggling to secure memory modules and would heavily disrupt their business.

GPU price hikes are reportedly on the way, as memory shortages have caused RAM prices to surge – something consumers have already felt the impact of. AMD GPU price changes have been all but confirmed, and it’s entirely possible that Nvidia GPUs will be affected, too. There have already been reports suggesting that low to mid-range GPUs are being discontinued on both sides.

Nvidia tells GPU partners to source their own VRAM, rumor says

This rumor comes from an often-reliable leaker on Chinese social media platform Weibo. They refer to a rumor that suggests GPU board partners “must source their own memory” rather than counting on Nvidia to bundle the appropriate GDDR memory together with the graphics processor. As the leaker points out, this would massively impact smaller AIB (third-party) partners without prior connections to GDDR chip vendors.

Memory supply is slim as AI firms hoard supply for data centers; this is the reason why Nvidia’s RTX 50 Super series has a shadow of doubt cast over it. Last time we heard, Nvidia’s GPU partners were still waiting for finalized specs. And with the rumored lack of GPU/memory bundles moving forward, the leaker suggests that some brands are being “completely ignored”.

In 2025, gaming revenue is a small part of Nvidia’s quarterly profits. Recently posted results for Q3 2025 show that Nvidia netted $4.3 billion in Gaming revenue, which is up 30% from this time last year. While that’s a positive statistic, Nvidia continues to make most of its money in AI data centers. The company reported a record $51.2 billion in Data Center revenue during Q3 2025. Nvidia has already reminded us that it considers itself to be “an AI data center infrastructure company” at this point.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.