Nvidia RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 Production Rumors Point to a Major GPU Shake-Up
Fresh rumors suggest Nvidia may be preparing a major change in its high-end graphics card lineup, with both the GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 reportedly nearing the end of production. While Nvidia has not confirmed these claims, the latest information from well-known hardware leaker Moore’s Law is Dead adds more weight to earlier reports that the company is winding down supply of its flagship Blackwell gaming GPUs.
According to the latest claims shared during a recent Broken Silicon podcast episode, Nvidia may stop production of the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 in the first half of January. The source cited by the leaker reportedly said that the final RTX 5090 shipments already arrived in September, while the last RTX 5080 shipments are expected by the end of October.
If accurate, this means remaining stock of these graphics cards could be sold through the holiday shopping season, including the Thanksgiving sales period, before availability begins to shrink. For PC gamers and system builders looking at Nvidia’s top-tier GPUs, this could make the coming months especially important.
The RTX 5080 situation appears to be more interesting than a simple discontinuation. The current RTX 5080 model with 16 GB of VRAM is rumored to be replaced by a new 24 GB variant in early 2027. This upgraded version would likely target gamers, creators, and AI-focused users who need more video memory for demanding workloads.
The source also reportedly claimed that a major retailer already has a placeholder SKU in its system for an RTX 5080 24 GB model. While that does not guarantee a launch, it does suggest preparations may already be happening behind the scenes.
A 24 GB RTX 5080 would be a notable upgrade over the existing 16 GB version, especially as modern games, high-resolution texture packs, ray tracing, AI tools, and professional applications continue to demand more VRAM. However, if the card does launch, it is expected to arrive at a higher price than the current RTX 5080.
Nvidia, for its part, has denied that the RTX 5090 is being discontinued and has not announced any plans for an upgraded RTX 5080. Because of that, these details should still be treated as unofficial until the company makes a formal announcement.
The timing of these rumors has also sparked discussion about Nvidia’s next-generation GPU roadmap. Moore’s Law is Dead suggested that, under normal market conditions, the discontinuation of Nvidia’s top two gaming GPUs and the reported cancellation of an RTX Super refresh would usually point toward a new generation arriving sooner rather than later.
That has led to renewed speculation about the RTX 60 series, including possible future cards such as the RTX 6080 and RTX 6090. However, the ongoing AI boom may be changing Nvidia’s strategy. With massive demand for AI accelerators and data center hardware, Nvidia may be prioritizing production capacity differently than it has in previous GPU generations.
There are conflicting rumors about when the RTX 60 series will actually launch. Some reports have suggested that the next-generation gaming GPUs may not arrive until 2028 or even 2029. Another hardware leaker, Kepler_L2, recently claimed that the RTX 6060 may not launch until 2029, while higher-end models such as the RTX 6080 or RTX 6090 could appear earlier, possibly in 2028.
The same leaker has also suggested that Nvidia’s RTX 60 series and AMD’s RDNA 5 graphics cards may both arrive around 2028. If true, that would mean the next major GPU battle between Nvidia and AMD is still some time away.
For now, the biggest question is what happens to the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 supply over the next few months. If production really is winding down, availability could become tighter, especially for the RTX 5090. The RTX 5080 may remain easier to find for a while longer if the final shipments arrive later, but that could change quickly once retailers move through their remaining inventory.
The rumored RTX 5080 24 GB could become an important stopgap product for Nvidia, giving the company a stronger high-end gaming card without fully launching a new generation. More VRAM would make it more competitive for 4K gaming, content creation, AI-assisted workflows, and other demanding tasks.
Until Nvidia confirms its plans, buyers should remain cautious. Anyone considering an RTX 5090 or RTX 5080 may want to keep an eye on pricing and availability during the holiday season, as stock changes could affect both discounts and long-term supply.
