Muhammad NaeemGPU prices in Pakistan are climbing again, and this time the pressure comes from memory chips. AMD raised the price of the GDDR6 memory it supplies to its graphics card partners on October 1, 2026, according to a report by TechTimes published on October 12. Local sellers are already passing the cost on. The AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB, which sold near Rs 145,000 a few months ago, is now listed at Rs 180,000 at Zestro Gaming in Rawalpindi and Karachi.
Every price in this article comes from a live retailer listing seen this week. The global facts come from TechTimes (October 12, 2026), ProPakistani, and a detailed Pakistan price list published in September 2026. Prices move fast in this market, so treat the figures below as a snapshot of this week and confirm with the seller before you pay.
GPU Prices in Pakistan: What Changed in October
In early October, AMD told its board partners, including Sapphire, ASUS, XFX, and Vastarmor, that GDDR6 memory kits would cost more from October 1. The report comes from the Chinese supply chain forum Board Channels and was confirmed by BenchLife, as covered by TechTimes. AMD has not put out a public statement, and the exact percentage of the rise has not been independently confirmed.
This is the fourth memory driven price move by AMD in ten months. An initial increase came in December 2025. A partner notice dated July 31, 2026 confirmed at least a 10 percent rise in Radeon GPU and GDDR6 kit prices for August. In China, channel guidance in the third quarter pushed the RX 9070 XT from 5,599 yuan to 6,999 yuan, roughly a 20 percent rise, according to Guru3D.
The root cause sits far from Pakistan. AI data centers buy huge amounts of high bandwidth memory, called HBM. The same three companies, Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron, make more than 95 percent of the world DRAM supply. When they shift factory space to HBM, which earns far higher margins, less space is left for GDDR6. TrendForce data quoted by TechTimes shows GDDR6 spot prices tripled since late 2025, from about $2.50 per gigabyte to about $7.50 per gigabyte. Because AMD ships GDDR6 bundled with its GPU dies to board partners, the higher memory cost lands straight in the price of every Radeon card.
NVIDIA moved the same way earlier. ProPakistani reported in July 2026 that NVIDIA had raised the prices it charges card makers for GPU and memory kits, covering both GDDR6 and GDDR7 cards. That affects the RTX 5050, some RTX 40 series cards, and most of the RTX 50 series. So both brands are now under the same cost pressure.
What It Means for Buyers in Pakistan
The RX 9060 XT is the card where the change is easiest to see. In July 2026, Zestro Gaming listed the Sapphire Pulse version at Rs 145,000 and the ASUS Dual at Rs 148,000 in a stock video. This week, the same shop lists the card at Rs 180,000 with stock on hand. Price comparison site qeemat.com.pk shows the premium Sapphire Nitro+ model at Rs 185,999 at PakByte. EEZEPC, an authorised dealer, lists the ASUS Dual 16GB at Rs 169,990. That is a rise of roughly 20 to 25 percent in about three months, and the October hike has not fully worked its way through yet. TechTimes notes that many retailers still sell Radeon stock bought before the hike, and that window may close in the next four to eight weeks as new, pricier stock arrives.
NVIDIA cards tell a mixed story. The RTX 5060 8GB is one of the few cards still selling near its launch price worldwide. In Pakistan, PPGamers lists the MSI Ventus RTX 5060 8GB at Rs 114,999, and Zanbeel.pk lists the factory overclocked ZOTAC Twin Edge version at Rs 133,300. For buyers who need a card right now, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 remains the most sensible new card in the budget to mid range.
Intel Arc is the quiet winner in all this. The Arc B570 has seen the smallest price rises of any current card family, 38 percent over the past year against 66 percent for NVIDIA RTX 50 series, per German retailer tracking by 3D Center quoted in the report. For 1080p gaming on a tight budget, the Intel Arc B570 is worth a look.
At the top end, the RTX 5090 is effectively gone from gaming shelves. Reports say NVIDIA has ended production and will send the flagship chip to its professional lineup instead. NVIDIA has not confirmed this officially, but street prices of $6,500 to $9,500 against a $1,999 launch price show where the card has ended up, partly because AI buyers keep picking up retail units for local work.
Current GPU Prices in Pakistan: Key Cards This Week
| Graphics Card | Memory | Price in Pakistan | Listed By |
| AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB | 16GB GDDR6 | Rs 180,000 | Zestro Gaming |
| Sapphire Nitro+ RX 9060 XT OC 16GB | 16GB GDDR6 | Rs 185,999 | PakByte (via qeemat.com.pk) |
| ASUS Dual RX 9060 XT 16GB | 16GB GDDR6 | Rs 169,990 | EEZEPC |
| MSI Ventus RTX 5060 8GB | 8GB GDDR7 | Rs 114,999 | PPGamers |
| ZOTAC Twin Edge OC RTX 5060 8GB | 8GB GDDR7 | Rs 133,300 | Zanbeel.pk |
These are listed prices seen between October 14 and 15, 2026. Pakistani shops change GPU prices often, sometimes within days, so call or check the listing before you order.
Should You Buy Now or Wait
If you need a card now, buy now. TechTimes reports that Radeon stock at many shops still carries pre October pricing, which means prices are more likely to rise than fall in the coming weeks. The RTX 5060 8GB is holding its price, and cards like the older AMD RX 7600 sit lower in the stack for tight budgets.
If you are hoping for a price drop, the wait looks long. SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won has said publicly that memory supply will stay more than 20 percent below demand through 2030, and that new factory space takes at least four to five years to come online. NVIDIA chief Jensen Huang has described the memory shortage as one that will last quite a few years. No new NVIDIA or AMD gaming card families are expected before 2027. Put simply, there is no relief on the horizon before the second half of 2027 at the earliest.
Buying a GPU Right Now: The Ups and Downs
- The RTX 5060 8GB still sells near its launch price in Pakistan, making it the safest buy this week.
- Intel Arc B570 is the most price stable card family of the year, a good pick for 1080p gaming.
- Some shops still hold Radeon stock bought before the October hike, so acting fast can lock in a lower price.
- 16GB cards like the RX 9060 XT handle modern games better than 8GB cards at high settings.
- Radeon RX 9000 prices are rising, and the old Rs 145,000 level for the 9060 XT is gone.
- High end cards remain far above launch prices, with the RTX 5090 out of reach for gamers.
- New stock arriving over the next month or two will cost more, so waiting is likely to hurt.
- No price relief is expected before the second half of 2027, according to industry forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are GPU prices rising in Pakistan again?
AMD raised GDDR6 memory prices for its board partners on October 1, 2026, and local shops are passing the cost to buyers. Memory chip prices have tripled since late 2025 because AI data centers are absorbing factory capacity. NVIDIA raised its kit prices earlier in the year, so both brands are now affected.
Which GPU is the best value in Pakistan right now?
The RTX 5060 8GB is the strongest pick, selling near its launch price at shops like PPGamers at Rs 114,999. If your budget is tighter and you play at 1080p, the Intel Arc B570 has been the most price stable card this year.
How much does the RX 9060 XT cost in Pakistan?
The 16GB model is listed at Rs 180,000 at Zestro Gaming and Rs 185,999 for the Sapphire Nitro+ at PakByte. EEZEPC lists the ASUS Dual version at Rs 169,990. That is roughly 20 to 25 percent higher than July prices.
Will GPU prices drop in 2027?
Probably not before the second half of 2027. SK Hynix says memory supply will stay well below demand through 2030, and no new GPU families from NVIDIA or AMD are expected before 2027. Expect prices to stay high, or rise further, for months.
Source: TechTimes, October 12, 2026. Read the full report on GPU prices jumping again for the detailed supply chain picture.
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