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

With the official release of the new GPU set for tomorrow, it’s a bit disappointing that the Founders Edition won’t hit the shelves until the latter part of March.

NVIDIA has opted to push back the retail launch of the GeForce RTX 5070 FE GPU. This news isn’t from an official announcement by NVIDIA, but rather from Andreas Schilling, who has reported receiving an email notifying him of the delay. Although the review embargo for the RTX 5070 was lifted just hours ago, the GPU was originally expected to be available for purchase starting tomorrow.

However, in an interesting twist, the editor from Hardware Luxx mentioned that NVIDIA reached out to him not long before the review embargo was lifted, breaking the news of the delay. So, if you were planning to get your hands on the Founders Edition of the GeForce RTX 5070 GPU right away, you might need to hold off on that purchase. It’s unclear if this delay will affect the retail launch of the other AIB editions as well, but considering recent reports on the GPU’s demand, it’s safe to say it might not be that easy to find.

In a tweet, Andreas Schilling communicated this update: anyone anticipating to buy a GeForce RTX 5070 Founders Edition might need to adjust their plans. NVIDIA said the edition will roll out later in March, although no specific date has been given.

This situation could echo previous releases like the RTX 5090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5070 Ti, which also experienced similar “paper launches.” Various reviews already published reveal that the GeForce RTX 5070 delivers performance levels comparable to the RTX 4070 Super. While it might not showcase substantial generational enhancements, its slightly better performance at a price tag of $549 is still relatively competitive.

That said, if the MSRP doesn’t hold and prices soar, it might be wise to consider waiting for the upcoming Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070, slated for launch on March 6th, with reviews expected a day prior. Priced at $599 for the XT and $549 for the standard version, these models are gearing up to be strong contenders against the RTX 5070.

As for the reasons behind the GeForce RTX 5070 delay, nothing official has been stated, though speculation hints at possible performance bugs or supply issues with the chips. Regardless, while the Founders Edition may be postponed by a few weeks, we can still hope to see the AIB custom editions scattered across global markets. Retailers like B&H Photo Video recently listed the GPU at an MSRP of $549 for both base and overclocked models. If the prices jump beyond $600 for these custom models, it might be prudent to look for alternatives unless a similarly powerful GPU isn’t available in your area.