Nvidia and Samsung may restart RTX 3060 production to tackle shortages

Recent reports and online rumors suggest that Nvidia may be preparing to bring back the GeForce RTX 3060, effectively reviving part of its RTX 30-series lineup, which originally ended production in 2024. If true, this move could help ease the current global GPU shortage and potentially allow Nvidia to navigate export restrictions imposed by the United States on markets such as China.

This information follows earlier reports from January, which also hinted at a possible RTX 3060 comeback. At this stage, it remains unclear whether Nvidia would reintroduce the 8GB or 12GB version of the card, or how the company might price the revived model. Another unanswered question is why Nvidia would choose to bring back a 30-series GPU instead of expanding availability of cards from the RTX 40 series.

One possible explanation lies in manufacturing logistics. Both the RTX 40 and RTX 50 series rely on TSMC’s 4nm process, meaning producing additional RTX 40 GPUs would compete for the same fabrication capacity used for newer RTX 50 models. In contrast, the RTX 30 series was built using Samsung’s 8nm process, which has likely become more mature and cost-efficient since the cards first launched in 2021. Using that older node would allow Nvidia to manufacture GPUs without affecting production of its latest hardware.

In terms of performance, the RTX 3060 is estimated to deliver roughly 70% of the performance of an RTX 5060, positioning it as a reasonable entry-level option for desktop gamers - especially if it returns with an attractive price. However, the RTX 5060 offers a number of modern advantages beyond raw performance, including multi-frame generation and native FP8 acceleration for DLSS 4.5, making it significantly more advanced overall.

As with most rumors, these reports should be approached cautiously until official confirmation arrives. If Nvidia truly plans to reintroduce the RTX 3060 later this month, more concrete information should emerge soon.

With ongoing memory shortages tightening supply across the GPU market, availability is becoming just as important as performance. While higher-end models may face fluctuating stock and rising prices, the RTX 5060 remains a compelling option for gamers seeking next-generation features without paying premium prices. Be sure to use our price comparison tool to find the best deals on the RTX 5060 graphics card today.