High VRAM GPU restocks look shaky in Japan as memory costs rise
A report from ITMedia claims that a Japanese retailer has started restricting graphics card purchases, aiming to spread remaining stock across more buyers. The store also warned that high-capacity models are getting harder to source, and restock timing is unclear.
That lines up with wider component supply pressure going into Q1 2026. Japanese system builders and retailers have been posting warnings about unstable parts pricing and availability tied to memory and storage constraints, with some pausing or limiting orders until early 2026. There is also a strong demand for PC parts now, and some retailers and system integrators are already pausing sales due to demand.
Report also describes tighter purchase limits around year end, with GPU shelves starting to show gaps at some shops. One store comment singled out 16GB variants, mentioning NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB and AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB as models that may already be difficult to secure.
Source: ITMedia
The 16GB versions of the RTX 5060 Ti and RX 9600 XT may already be hard to get
Dospara Akihabara Main Store said, “ Memory prices are still rising sharply. Still, we have secured some stock, so for now we think we can avoid situations where customers come all the way here only to find they can’t assemble a complete machine.”
Meanwhile, some stores are starting to see empty spaces on graphics card shelves. Compared with memory and storage, GPU price increases are less obvious, but one store viewed it strictly, saying, “It’s a difference in turnover, and it’s only a matter of time.”
– ITMedia (translation)
For buyers, the near-term risk is selection, not just price. Retailers can hold pricing while they sell through older inventory, then pricing shifts once replacement stock is bought under new terms. If high VRAM SKUs stay constrained, the shortages will hit those models first.
Source: ITMedia
