A new rumor may bring some relief to PC gamers. nvidia We are re-launching the RTX 3060 GPU. Graphics cards, SSDs, and other components have risen sharply in price recently as RAM has become more difficult and more expensive to purchase for both consumers and manufacturers. Now, if leaks are to be believed, Nvidia, one of the biggest players in PC gaming, could soften the blow by re-releasing a cheaper option.
It hasn't been easy for gamers to get their hands on new high-end hardware these days. As the global RAM shortage sends shockwaves across the PC components supply chain, some retailers are selling RTX 5090 GPUs for more than $3,000, and all signs point to even bigger increases. Nvidia has yet to comment officially on the matter, but there are plenty of rumors about what's going on behind the scenes. One of its latest products may offer PC builders an unexpected glimmer of hope in difficult times.
PC gamers are in for a rough ride. Micron says the RAM shortage could persist beyond 2026.
Micron suggests that the ongoing RAM shortage could extend into 2026 and beyond as demand continues to eat up available supply.
The leaker claims that Nvidia will relaunch the RTX 3060 in early 2026.
On January 5th, PC hardware leaker hongxing2020 published a brief but promising claim that Nvidia would relaunch the RTX 3060 in the first quarter of 2026. Nvidia will discontinue production of the RTX 3060 GPU at the end of 2024, about three years after the line launched. These cards were wildly popular both before and after discontinuation, and while they may not offer the performance that newer 40 and 50 series GPUs offer, their prices starting at around $330 are a welcome change for many in a sea of high price tags for modern hardware. There is no official confirmation and hongxing2020 did not provide any further details, but a re-release is possible with a lower price and older, less AI-affected memory.
Despite the lack of specifics, hongxing2020's statement carries some weight considering the leaker's exact history of claims. In the past, they have accurately leaked Nvidia's RTX 5050 launching in July 2025. They also predicted a delay for the 50 Super series GPUs, which seems likely given that Nvidia has confirmed that it will not be showing off any new GPUs at CES 2026. Relaunching the 3060 could help the company maintain sales and maintain public favor, especially despite rising RAM prices. Nvidia will reduce production of 50-series GPUs to cover costs.
If Nvidia revives the 3060, it won't be completely immune from rising RAM costs, as the GPU will still need memory, which will be affected by the shortage. However, it uses DDR6 instead of the more expensive DDR7 and, notably, uses much less RAM than Nvidia's latest series of graphics cards. According to the most recent Steam Hardware Survey, the RTX 3060 8GB is the most popular GPU today, and that 8GB is a far cry from the 50 series, which can use up to 32GB of VRAM. Even if the relaunched 3060's price is higher than its 2021 counterpart, these lower specs mean it will be much cheaper to produce than its 50-series or 40-series alternatives.
The move has implications for more than catering to price-sensitive consumers. Rising RAM costs also affect companies like Nvidia. Samsung has reportedly doubled the amount it charges manufacturers for DDR5 as it secures more memory production for AI use. Focusing on making low-end GPUs could lower Nvidia's own costs, helping it weather the storm. Of course, the 3060's return is just a rumor for now, so gamers will have to wait and see how things play out.
- Establishment date
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April 1, 1993
- headquarters
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Santa Clara, California, USA
- CEO
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Jensen Huang
- subsidiary company
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Mellanox Technologies, Cumulus Networks, NVIDIA Advanced Rendering Center
