Is the RTX 5090 Dead? RTX 5080 24GB Rumor Explained

We checked the leaks, the sources behind them, and the price tags, so you can decide whether any of this should change your next build

If you were on social media this weekend, you probably saw it: “NVIDIA is ending RTX 5090 production” and “gamers get an RTX 5080 24GB instead.” It spread fast, and a lot of folks are asking us whether they need to grab a 5090 before they're gone for good.

So we did the homework. Here's what was actually reported, who it came from, what NVIDIA has (and hasn't) said, and what it means if you're shopping for a high-end gaming PC right now. Short version: it's a credible rumor, not a confirmed announcement, and it doesn't change our advice for most gamers.

WHAT WAS ACTUALLY REPORTED

The story broke on October 10, 2026, and it traces back to two well-known hardware leakers on X, plus one trade publication:

MEGAsizeGPU posted that “all future GB202 supplies are RTX Pro exclusive.” GB202 is the big chip inside the RTX 5090. If that's true, NVIDIA would stop sending new GB202 chips to GeForce gaming cards and use all of them for its professional RTX PRO workstation cards.
hongxing2020 cited what's described as a factory notice saying NVIDIA will no longer make RTX 5090 models, including the China-market RTX 5090 D versions. The same notice reportedly says an RTX 5080 24GB becomes the top GeForce card, and that the current RTX 5080 16GB is discontinued.
BenchLife, a Taiwanese publication with good board-partner contacts, reported that NVIDIA has stopped supplying GB202 chips to add-in card partners (the ASUS, MSI and Gigabyte types) for RTX 5090 production.

VideoCardz, Wccftech and others picked it up from there, which is the headline you probably saw. Every one of those reports is built on the same leaks and unnamed sources.

TRUE, FALSE, OR COMING?

Here's how we'd sort it today. We'll update this post if NVIDIA says anything official.

Claim	Status	Why
RTX 5090 is “discontinued”	Unconfirmed	No NVIDIA announcement. Stopping chip shipments to partners isn't the same as formally ending a product.
GB202 going to RTX PRO only	Likely, per multiple sources	Two leakers plus BenchLife's partner reporting point the same way.
RTX 5080 24GB is coming	Rumored	A 24GB RTX 5080 SUPER has been leaked for over a year, but NVIDIA has never announced it.
RTX 5080 16GB being dropped	Rumored	Comes from the same reported factory notice. Not confirmed.
5090s vanish from shelves tomorrow	False	Cards that are already built can still be sold until stock runs out.

Status as of October 11, 2026, based on the sources listed at the bottom of this post.

WHAT NVIDIA HAS SAID

As of this writing, NVIDIA hasn't put out a public statement confirming or denying the reports. One secondhand report claims NVIDIA told an outlet that 5090 production continues, but we couldn't verify that, so we're not counting it either way. Until NVIDIA speaks up, treat all of this as a rumor.

WHY THIS MAKES BUSINESS SENSE FOR NVIDIA

We can't confirm the rumor, but it's easy to see why people believe it. The same GB202 chip that powers the RTX 5090 also powers NVIDIA's RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell workstation card, which sells for several times the price of a gaming card. With AI demand through the roof, every GB202 that goes into a GeForce card is one that could have earned a lot more as a pro card.

Memory is the other piece. The RTX 5090 carries 32GB of GDDR7, and memory prices have climbed hard this year. Back in July, multiple outlets reported that NVIDIA put its rumored RTX 50 SUPER refresh on hold, largely because of the cost of the newer 3GB GDDR7 memory chips. One estimate put them at $60–$70 each, compared with about $20 for the older 2GB chips. That's the same memory a 24GB RTX 5080 would need.

WHAT AN RTX 5080 24GB WOULD BE

Today's RTX 5080 has 16GB of GDDR7 on a 256-bit bus, using eight 2GB memory chips. Swap those for eight 3GB chips and you get 24GB without redesigning the card. That's why a “24GB RTX 5080” keeps coming up in leaks, usually under the RTX 5080 SUPER name.

Here's what to keep straight:

More memory, not a 5090. A 24GB 5080 would still use the RTX 5080's smaller chip. Unless NVIDIA also raises clocks or enables more of the chip, expect 5080-class gaming performance with more room for high-res textures, mods and local AI work, not 5090-class frame rates.
Timing is a rumor. Reports point to early 2027, but NVIDIA hasn't announced the card, its name, its price or its specs.
Price is the big unknown. If expensive 3GB memory was the reason for the SUPER delay, a 24GB card won't be cheap.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR RTX 5090 PRICES

RTX 5090 pricing was already wild before this news. The card launched at a $1,999 MSRP. Recent reports and price trackers put typical street pricing at major U.S. retailers somewhere around $4,300 to $5,000+, with third-party marketplace listings going much higher, some reportedly past $9,000. Reports in September said first-party inventory at major online retailers had almost completely dried up.

If new GB202 supply for gaming cards really has stopped, the 5090s still out there become a shrinking pile. That usually means prices stay high or go higher, not lower.

SHOULD YOU PANIC-BUY A 5090?

For most gamers, no. Here's the straight answer by situation.

DON'T CHASE IT — If You Mostly Game

Paying more than double MSRP for the last 5090s rarely makes sense for gaming alone. An RTX 5070 Ti handles 1440p high-refresh with room to spare, and an RTX 5080 is a strong 4K card, especially with DLSS. Our RTX 5070 Ti vs 5070 breakdown and upscaler guide show how far those cards go.

CONSIDER IT — If You Need 32GB of VRAM for Work

If you run large local AI models, heavy 3D rendering or 8K video timelines, the 5090's 32GB is hard to replace in a GeForce card, and a 24GB 5080 wouldn't match it. If that's you and the budget works, a 5090 is still the card to buy. Just know what you're paying for. Reach out and we'll talk through options before you order.

WAIT — If Your Current Card Is Still Doing the Job

If you're happy with your frame rates today, there's no rush. By early 2027 we should know whether the RTX 5080 24GB is real and what it costs. Waiting on a rumor makes sense only if your current rig is holding up.

OUR TAKE

This one has more behind it than most leaks: two established leakers and a trade publication with partner sources all point the same way, and the business reasons are obvious. But NVIDIA hasn't confirmed anything, and the RTX 5080 24GB is still a card nobody has officially seen. We'll update this post as soon as there's an official word.

In the meantime, don't let a headline push you into paying $5,000 for a graphics card you don't need. Most gamers are better served by a well-balanced build around an RTX 5070 Ti or RTX 5080, with the money left over going to a good CPU, enough RAM and fast storage. Our RAM and storage guide covers that side of the build.

GET THE STRAIGHT ANSWER ON YOUR GPU

Not sure whether you need a 5090, a 5080 or a 5070 Ti for how you play? Spec it out in the Custom Builder, or check out the Wrangler and Maverick, both available with an RTX 5070 Ti.

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Is NVIDIA Killing the RTX 5090? What’s Real, What’s Rumor, and the RTX 5080 24GB