Tesla quadruples GDDR6 orders to Samsung, tightening the graphics card market

Samsung is making a significant move in the GDDR6 memory market. Leaked information reveals that the company has begun increasing production of 8 Gb modules for Tesla, with orders now four times higher than in the first quarter. Elon Musk's company appears to have saturated Samsung's capacity, which is likely prioritizing Tesla over clients like Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA. This situation creates noticeable tension in the gaming and professional graphics card markets.

Since the beginning of the year, Tesla requested more memory, reaching over five times the initial volume in January. The ongoing chip shortage and production saturation put Samsung in a difficult position, trying to meet all demands without damaging its relationship with Tesla. The scarcity has driven the spot price of GDDR6 8 Gb from $2.84 in October 2025 to over $12.33 in April 2026, reflecting high demand and limited supply.

This preferential treatment with Tesla also impacts the availability of memory for AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA graphics cards. AMD's RX 9000 series, including models like the RX 9070 XT and RX 9070, rely on GDDR6 and could face shortages. The same applies to upcoming generations, leading to higher prices and reduced market availability.

Intel continues to use GDDR6 in its Arc series, such as the B580 and B570 models, but supply chain tensions might limit sales. NVIDIA, heavily dependent on GDDR6, faces a similar scenario, with demand surpassing supply and potential price hikes in the gaming and professional GPU markets.