Budget GPU shortages to get even worse in second half of 2026, warns PC Partner

Q: Which entry-level GPU models did the article mention as already selling above MSRP?

The article specifically mentions the RTX 5050, RTX 3050, and the Radeon RX 9050 as already selling above MSRP in several markets.

Q: Are memory types named in the article as being constrained by AI demand?

Yes. The article names graphics memory types GDDR6 and GDDR7 as being eaten into by AI demand, and it also references standard DRAM as having longer lead times and surging prices tied to data center demand.

Q: Did the article say other PC components are facing longer lead times besides GPUs and memory?

Yes. The article states that PC Partner says lead times for CPUs, standard DRAM, and other core components have gotten "significantly longer" in addition to GPU and graphics memory issues.

Q: How does the article suggest gamers should adjust their budgeting or buying plans for entry-level GPUs?

The article advises budgeting for higher prices on entry-level GPUs later in the year, since shortages and rising memory costs are likely to push average selling prices above MSRP. It also notes that buying sooner may be prudent, as suggested in the related article "AMD partner PowerColor suggests buying a new GPU now, before 2026's price increases."

In a big surprise to no one, budget GPU shortages are now also getting worse, just as entry-level cards were supposed to be the safe pick.

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Hassam Nasir

Tech Reporter

Published Aug 16, 2026 4:25 PM CDT

1 minute & 45 seconds read time

TL;DR: PC Partner warns entry-level GPU shortages will worsen in H2 2026 as rising AI-driven demand for GDDR6/GDDR7 and longer lead times for CPUs and DRAM push component costs up. The company saw constrained card volumes, a 10.7% rise in average GPU prices, and doubled net profit despite modest revenue growth.

Voice: Hassam NasirSpeed

0:00 / 3:01

Just when entry-level GPUs looked like the last affordable corner of PC gaming, that corner is apparently about to get squeezed too. PC Partner Group, the Hong Kong company behind ZOTAC, INNO3D, and Manli, warned in its first-half 2026 financial results that graphics card shortages are set to get "even more" severe in the entry-level segment specifically, with average selling prices expected to climb further in the back half of the year.

Budget GPU shortages to get even worse in second half of 2026, warns PC Partner 1

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According to the company, the culprit is the same one we've been hearing about all year: rising graphics memory costs, driven by AI demand, eating into GDDR6 and GDDR7 supply. PC Partner didn't name specific models, but cards like the RTX 5050, RTX 3050, and the recently launched Radeon RX 9050 are already selling above MSRP in several markets, and this warning suggests that gap is only going to widen.

Budget GPU shortages to get even worse in second half of 2026, warns PC Partner 5050

It's not just graphics memory either. PC Partner says lead times for CPUs, standard DRAM, and other core components have gotten "significantly longer" too, apparently making the entire PC supply chain harder to plan around. Standard DRAM prices have already surged repeatedly this year on the back of data center demand, so the warning aligns with a pattern we've seen play out again and again in 2026.

The numbers back up the extent to which this is already reshaping PC Partner's business. Component shortages held back sales volumes for its own graphics cards in the first half of 2026, yet the average selling price for those cards still rose 10.7% year over year. Despite that squeeze, the company more than doubled its net profit to roughly $69.5 million USD, up from about $31.9 million a year earlier, while revenue grew a more modest 1.5% to around $820 million USD.

Budget GPU shortages to get even worse in second half of 2026, warns PC Partner 2

This is happening right as GPU prices across the board have been climbing well past launch pricing, and AMD has already confirmed further hikes of its own for the second half of the year. Entry-level cards were supposed to be the fallback option for gamers priced out of the mid-range and flagship market, so a warning like this one probably won't sit well with anyone hoping to build or upgrade a budget PC soon.

Budget GPU shortages to get even worse in second half of 2026, warns PC Partner 4

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Question #1

Which entry-level GPU models did the article mention as already selling above MSRP?

Question #2

Are memory types named in the article as being constrained by AI demand?

Question #3

Did the article say other PC components are facing longer lead times besides GPUs and memory?

Question #4

How does the article suggest gamers should adjust their budgeting or buying plans for entry-level GPUs?

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Of course, none of this is confirmed as a done deal yet, and PC Partner's statement is more of a warning sign. Still, given how consistently price increases have played out across 2026, it's probably worth budgeting for higher prices if you're eyeing an entry-level GPU purchase later this year.