NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 FE Retail Launch Reportedly Pushed to Late March

The much-anticipated launch of NVIDIA’s next-generation GPU is just around the corner, happening officially tomorrow. However, those eyeing the Founders Edition will have to wait a bit longer, as it won’t hit the shelves until later in March.

Reports have surfaced, primarily from Andreas Schilling, that NVIDIA reached out to communicate the delay in the GeForce RTX 5070 FE’s release. The schedule change came to light just as the reviews for the RTX 5070 rolled out and got the fans buzzing with anticipation for its impending retail debut. According to Schilling, NVIDIA’s update arrived mere hours before the press embargo on the reviews was lifted. If you were planning to snag a Founders Edition of the GeForce RTX 5070, brace yourself for a wait. It’s still unclear whether this delay will spill over to the retail availability of partner brand editions, but based on the current whispers around GPU availability, it might be a tough find.

Schilling even tweeted a heads up, remarking that anyone hoping to purchase a Founders Edition the next day might need to adjust their plans. His tweet featured a snippet from NVIDIA’s message indicating the new timeline.

This situation harkens back to the launch streak of other models like the RTX 5090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5070 Ti, which faced similar so-called “paper launches.” Reviews out now suggest that the RTX 5070 performs at par with the RTX 4070 Super, barring any revolutionary leaps in performance. Priced at $549, it sits comfortably within a good value range, provided one can secure the purchase at that MSRP.

Should availability prove elusive, potential buyers might consider waiting for AMD’s contenders—the Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070. These cards are set to hit the market on March 6, with reviews dropping a day earlier. Priced at $599 for the XT model and $549 for the regular RX 9070, they present a viable alternative to NVIDIA’s offering.

As for what’s causing the delay with the RTX 5070 Founders Edition, the speculations include technical bugs and supply chain hiccups impacting chip availability, though NVIDIA remains mum on the specifics. Even though the Founders Edition is pushed back, there’s hope that custom editions by AIB partners will still roll out globally. Currently, retailers, such as B&H Photo Video, are listing the GPU at the expected retail price of $549 for both the standard and overclocked models. However, should prices for these models exceed $600, it might be prudent to steer clear unless no other equivalent options are accessible in your market.

This bump in the road doesn’t overshadow the excitement for NVIDIA’s latest, but it does add a layer of strategic waiting to the GPU hunting game. Keep your eyes peeled for further updates, and may the odds be in your favor in the quest for the next GPU powerhouse.