Mid-range graphics card sales with 8GB of video memory slow down

According to recent reports, NVIDIA is set to release the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB, based on the Ada Lovelace architecture, on May 24, with AMD launching the RDNA 3 architecture-based Radeon RX 7600 the following day. Both of these units, each featuring an 8GB memory capacity, are targeted toward the mid-range/mainstream market.

However, a recent report by 3DCenter may cast a shadow over the optimistic sales prospects of these new graphics cards. The report’s analysis, derived from sales data gathered by German retailer MindFactory, suggests that gamers are gradually veering away from graphics cards with 8GB memory, instead favoring products equipped with larger memory capacities.

The report cites sales data from the fourth week of the year, indicating that the RTX 3060 was the best-selling graphics card, with products featuring 8GB memory occupying 4.5 spots in the top 10. This can be attributed to the RTX 3060 itself being available in both 8GB and 12GB memory configurations. However, by week 17, products with 8GB memory only occupied 1.5 spots in the top 10. The RTX 3060 had dropped to fifth place, with sales halved compared to the fourth week. Intriguingly, the ninth and tenth positions, initially held by the RTX 3070 and RTX 3070 Ti in the fourth week, were replaced by the RX 6800 XT and RX 6950 XT in the 17th week.

To a certain extent, this reflects gamers’ voting with their wallets. Although the imminent new graphics cards feature a new generation of GPU architecture, the memory capacity remaining at 8GB could influence gamers’ purchase decisions. Recent reports suggest that NVIDIA, taking heed of feedback from the gaming community, will introduce the RTX 4060 Ti 16GB, which underscores the issue to some degree. Additionally, AMD’s persistent promotion over the past period, emphasizing the importance of “having more graphics memory,” may have also played a role.