--- title: "The End of the Era of Affordable Graphics Cards: PC Partner Warns of Global Shortage of Budget GPUs by Late 2026" description: "🚨 PC Partner warns: by the end of 2026, we face a shortage of budget graphics cards. Due to a lack of memory, manufacturers will focus on expensive models, leading to a sharp rise in prices for \"popular\" GPUs. The company's revenue has already dropped by 9.2%. Time to buy cards now while they are still available! πŸ’ΈπŸ“‰ #videokarty #defitsit #PCPartner #Zotac" date: 2026-08-16T20:50:49.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/end-of-affordable-gpus-2026-pc-partner-warning tags: [video-cards, gpu-deficit, pc-partner, zotac, tech-news, inflation] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # The End of the Era of Affordable Graphics Cards: PC Partner Warns of Global Shortage of Budget GPUs by Late 2026 ![Graphic illustration of budget GPU shortage: three GeForce RTX graphics cards and a $$$ icon with 'ENTRY LEVEL GPU OFF' text](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/17/defitsit-byudzhetnyh-videokart-2026-preduprezhdenie-pc-partner/defitsit-byudzhetnyh-videokart-2026-preduprezhdenie-pc-partner-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - PC Partner warns of a shortage of budget graphics cards by the end of 2026. - The cause of the crisis is a lack of memory and a shift in focus to expensive models. - The company's revenue from GPU sales has decreased by 9.2% year-on-year. - A significant percentage-based price increase is expected for entry-level graphics cards. The graphics processing unit market, which has shown signs of stabilization over the past few years, is once again preparing users for serious upheavals. Major graphics card manufacturer PC Partner, which owns popular brands such as ZOTAC, Inno3D, and Manli, has issued an alarming forecast. According to the company, by the end of 2026, the situation regarding the availability of entry-level graphics cards could deteriorate significantly, leading to shortages and a sharp rise in prices for budget models. ### Manufacturer Strategy: Abandoning Marginally Unprofitable Models The main cause of the impending crisis, according to PC Partner, is a chronic shortage of memory and components necessary for graphics card production. In conditions of limited resources, manufacturers are forced to revise their production plans. Market logic dictates strict rules: in times of shortage, priority is given to more profitable products. This means that factories will be busy releasing expensive flagship solutions, while the production of budget cards, which bring in less profit, may be reduced or stopped altogether. ### Economic Impact: Revenue Drop and Price Hikes The impact of the current market environment has already been reflected in PC Partner's financial figures. The company reported a 9.2% decrease in revenue from graphics card sales compared to the same period last year. Experts predict that in absolute terms, the price increase for lower-tier models may be less than for flagships, but in percentage terms, the price hike in the budget segment could be colossal. For the average consumer, this means that buying a new entry-level system will become significantly more expensive. ### Contradictory Data There is a certain discrepancy in the interpretation of the current situation by different market players. On the one hand, analysts and manufacturers like PC Partner point to an inevitable shortage and price increase in the second half of 2026, linking this to a lack of memory. On the other hand, some sources (specifically materials dedicated to anniversary versions of the RTX 50-series) indicate active marketing activity and the release of new products, which in theory should expand supply. However, as experts note, the release of new top-tier series is often accompanied by a redistribution of resources at the expense of the budget segment, confirming the thesis of a shortage specifically of "popular" graphics cards. ### Impact on the PC Market and Prospects for Gamers The shortage of budget graphics cards will inevitably hit the market for ready-made personal computers. PC builders targeting the mass consumer will face a shortage of components for assembling affordable systems. This will lead to a general price increase for entry-level gaming and workstations. For gamers, this is a signal that in the coming months, it is worth considering buying graphics cards in advance or considering alternative upgrade options, as finding an affordable card in retail by the end of the year will be extremely difficult. ## πŸ” Fact-Check Verification - [Zotac will release special editions of GeForce RTX 50-series graphics cards for its 20th anniversary, but will not sell them](https://3dnews.ru/1141909/zotac-vipustit-k-20letiyu-spetsversii-videokart-geforce-rtx-50y-serii-no-prodavat-ih-ne-budet) - ΠŸΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π΅Π½ΠΎ ΠΏΠΎ источнику 3dnews.ru - [Graphics card manufacturers warn of an impending shortage β€” the entry-level segment will suffer the most...](https://www.notebookcheck-ru.com/Proizvoditeli-videokart-preduprezhdajut-o-nadvigajushchemsja-deficite-bolshe-vsego-postradajut-bjudzhetnye-graficheskie-processory.1369564.0.html) - Π˜ΡΡ‚ΠΎΡ‡Π½ΠΈΠΊ ΠΏΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π°Π΅Ρ‚ ΠΈΠ½Ρ„ΠΎΡ€ΠΌΠ°Ρ†ΠΈΡŽ ΠΎ Π΄Π΅Ρ„ΠΈΡ†ΠΈΡ‚Π΅ Π±ΡŽΠ΄ΠΆΠ΅Ρ‚Π½Ρ‹Ρ… GPU ΠΈ ΠΏΡ€ΠΈΡ‡ΠΈΠ½Π°Ρ…, связанных с ΠΏΠ°ΠΌΡΡ‚ΡŒΡŽ ΠΈ ΠΌΠ°Ρ€ΠΆΠΈΠ½Π°Π»ΡŒΠ½ΠΎΡΡ‚ΡŒΡŽ. - [Shortage of graphics cards and components will lead to PC price hikes in the second half of 2026](https://www.playground.ru/misc/news/defitsit_videokart_i_komponentov_privedyot_k_podorozhaniyu_pk_vo_vtoroj_polovine_2026_goda-1867102) - ΠŸΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π°Π΅Ρ‚ ΠΏΡ€ΠΎΠ³Π½ΠΎΠ· ΠΎ ΠΏΠΎΠ΄ΠΎΡ€ΠΎΠΆΠ°Π½ΠΈΠΈ ПК ΠΈ Π΄Π΅Ρ„ΠΈΡ†ΠΈΡ‚Π΅ ΠΊΠΎΠΌΠΏΠΎΠ½Π΅Π½Ρ‚ΠΎΠ² Π²ΠΎ Π²Ρ‚ΠΎΡ€ΠΎΠΉ ΠΏΠΎΠ»ΠΎΠ²ΠΈΠ½Π΅ 2026 Π³ΠΎΠ΄Π°. - [Top 5 best budget graphics cards for gaming in 2026: Hi-Tech Mail editorial rating](https://hi-tech.mail.ru/compilations/137071-luchshie-byudzhetnye-videokarty-dlya-igr/) - ΠŸΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π΅Π½ΠΎ ΠΏΠΎ источнику hi-tech.mail.ru ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Why will prices for budget graphics cards rise? **A:** Manufacturers are reducing the production of cheap models due to a memory shortage, switching to more profitable flagship cards. ### Q: Which market segment will the shortage affect? **A:** The entry-level segment will be hit the hardest, as it is the most accessible for the mass consumer. ### Q: Is there already confirmation of a sales drop? **A:** Yes, PC Partner has already recorded a 9.2% decrease in revenue from graphics card sales compared to last year.