GeForce RTX 4070 in short supply next month for the Chinese market

NVIDIA control over RTX 40 supply gets tighter.

The situation in the Chinese GPU market does not always mirror that in other regions. Market dynamics, supply chain factors, and local circumstances can vary significantly. Board Channels, which provide direct updates from NVIDIA’s authorized board partners (AIBs), often give insights into the current status and official communications between GPU vendors and these companies.

Today it was reported that NVIDIA has informed its partners about a reduced supply of RTX 4070 cards for Chinese AIBs. It’s important to note that this situation does not necessarily reflect the global GPU market, including Taiwan, where many companies currently operate. According to our information, some of these companies are currently relocating their graphics card assembly lines from China to bypass restrictions imposed by the US government on producing high-performance cards like the RTX 4090 and future models.

NVIDIA Warns of RTX 4070 and Higher Series Shortages in August

NVIDIA has been carefully controlling the supply of its RTX 40 series, using a scarcity strategy to balance supply and demand. By strictly managing the order quantities for AIC brands, they ensure that the Chinese market gets just enough graphics cards each month or quarter—no more, no less.

According to the latest update from NVIDIA, the supply of RTX 4070 and higher models is likely to be even tighter in August than it was in July. The main reason for this expected shortage is a potential lack of GDDR6X memory that NVIDIA might face next month.

— Board Channels (translation)

It is said, that the RTX 4070 might be in short supply due to a potential shortage of GDDR6X memory expected next month. There have been no reports or rumors from other companies suggesting this, which might indicate that NVIDIA simply plans to prioritize other SKUs over the RTX 4070 in case that would happen. It’s worth noting that the RTX 4070 is the only high-end model, besides the 4090, that did not receive a SUPER upgrade in January.

Updates from the Chinese GPU market are always worth looking at, as they can hint at NVIDIA’s future plans. Given that many companies have production lines in China, these changes could influence the supply in other regions. But there’s no immediate reason to worry about a global effect. If there is any effect, it will likely take weeks to become visible.

Source: Board Channels