Whispers are swirling that NVIDIA is planning to temporarily stop producing chips for its RTX 4060 and RTX 4060 Ti graphics cards. While this might sound alarming, the situation isn’t as dire as it seems. The pause is likely a strategic move by NVIDIA to address what appears to be an excess of these cards in the market.
Reports from Chinese tech forums suggest that the production halt will be temporary, lasting approximately two weeks. This pause is believed to be a simple inventory correction, aiming to align production with the current stock levels held by NVIDIA’s retail partners. In essence, there are simply too many RTX 4060 cards out there, and NVIDIA needs to adjust production to avoid further overstocking.
This news should be distinguished from the separate rumor circulating about the discontinuation of the RTX 4090. With the imminent arrival of the RTX 5090 (potentially at CES 2025), NVIDIA’s decision to phase out the current flagship makes sense. However, the RTX 4060’s successor, the RTX 5060, is still quite some time away, making this temporary production pause a far cry from the end of the line for the RTX 4060.
While the RTX 4060 initially struggled to make a mark in the market, its popularity has been steadily increasing, as evidenced by recent Steam Hardware surveys. This surge in demand is partly attributed to the discontinuation of the competing RTX 3060 Ti, leaving the RTX 4060 as a more attractive option for gamers.
It’s important to remember that this is just a rumor, and NVIDIA has yet to officially confirm any changes to its production plans. However, given the current market dynamics and NVIDIA’s history of managing inventory, this temporary pause seems like a plausible strategy to ensure a healthy supply chain and avoid potential price drops due to oversupply.
This pause in production is unlikely to have a significant impact on the availability of the RTX 4060 and RTX 4060 Ti in the near future. Gamers and enthusiasts can likely still find these cards on shelves, and the pause is more of a strategic adjustment by NVIDIA to manage inventory and ensure a healthy market for its products.
