Some Japanese shops start rationing GPUs — graphics cards with 16GB VRAM and up are becoming harder to find, says one store

Due to a global memory shortage, some Japanese PC retailers are starting to ration GPUs with 16GB VRAM and higher due to difficulties in restocking. Nvidia is reportedly not supplying VRAM to its GPU board partners, exacerbating the scarcity. The shortage is attributed to unprecedented demand from AI data centers, leading to historic price increases for memory-related components. Memory chip manufacturers are focusing on the AI market, causing consumers to face high prices or delays in obtaining devices requiring memory modules. The shortage is expected to persist until at least 2026, impacting various tech components beyond just memory and storage.