Nvidia has officially launched branch 590 of its graphics drivers, an update that marks the end of support for Maxwell (GTX 750 to 900), Pascal (GTX 10, excluding GTX 16) and Volta (Titan V) graphics cards. These cards, which marked an entire generation of players, will no longer receive any optimization or patch for new games.
On the other hand, quarterly security updates will be provided until October 2028. In other words, these models are entering a transition phase towards obsolescence.
Change graphics card? Bad timing for players
According to the latest Steam data, GTX cards still represent almost 7% of configurations, with the GTX 1060 still in the top 20. But this end of support comes at the worst possible time. Indeed, a new global shortage of video memory (VRAM) is looming, and it directly affects the already stressed GPU market.
The consequence: the prices of graphics cards risk skyrocketing, particularly in 2026, making any hardware renewal more complex for gamers on a tight budget.
Nvidia changes strategy: VRAM borne by partners
Another major change of direction: Nvidia could soon stop providing VRAM memory with its graphics chips. Until now, partners like ASUS or MSI received a complete “kit”, including GPU and VRAM. From now on, they would have to source GDDR memory themselves, a difficult task in the current context.
With global priority given to HBM memory for artificial intelligence, the availability of GDDR6 and GDDR7 becomes critical. By transferring this responsibility to its partners, Nvidia seeks to limit its industrial risks, even if it means unbalancing the market.
Towards a surge in prices on the next graphics cards?
This upheaval could cause a two-speed market. Large manufacturers, capable of negotiating large volumes, will do well. But the smaller ones risk suffering supply delays or passing on the increase in costs to consumers.
With the next generation of graphics cards expected from 2026, this new industrial situation could make access to the latest GPUs even more difficult for gamers.
Conclusion: If you have a GTX at the end of its support, it might be wise to anticipate a possible replacement… before the prices become out of reach.