Nvidia RTX 3060 comeback in 2026 could alleviate soaring GPU prices and memory shortages — rumored RTX 5050 9GB abruptly shelved amid speculation

The Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card is reportedly making a comeback. According to hardware leaker MEGAsizeGPU, the company is planning to bring back its two-generation-old budget GPU, with a potential relaunch in June 2026. Additionally, Nvidia has put a temporary halt on its recently rumored plans to launch a 9GB VRAM version of its newer entry-level RTX 5050.

Originally announced in January 2021 with an MSRP of $329, the RTX 3060 features 3,584 CUDA cores, 12GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit memory bus, and boost clock speeds of up to 1,777 MHz. A relaunch in 2026 may be relevant, especially given how modern games have become increasingly VRAM-intensive.

The 12GB memory buffer should continue to work in its favor, particularly compared to newer entry-level GPUs that continue to ship with just 8GB. That said, Nvidia’s Ampere-based GPU won't benefit from newer technologies such as DLSS frame generation, improved ray tracing performance, and the latest AI and video encoding enhancements.

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During our original review, we found the RTX 3060 to be a solid 1080p graphics card with just enough juice to handle certain 1440p games. While its VRAM stood out as a key advantage over competing 8GB cards, the overall performance didn’t substantially outperform the previous generation.

One reason Nvidia might bring this GPU back is the lower cost of GDDR6 VRAM compared to the GDDR7 used in the RTX 50 series. With the ongoing surge in memory prices, it makes sense for the company to prioritize faster memory for its current and future graphics card models.

Likewise, the RTX 3060 was built using Samsung’s 8nm process, which should be in lower demand and easier to manufacture than the newer TSMC 4N 5nm process used by Nvidia’s RTX 40 (Ada Lovelace) and RTX 50 (Blackwell) series. With no concrete confirmation from Nvidia itself, it’s important to note that these details remain speculative.

With the right pricing, maybe around $200, the RTX 3060 could still make a lot of sense for gamers on a tight budget. Currently, the RTX 3060 12GB is readily available for $350-$400 on Amazon and as low as $150- $200 on second-hand marketplaces like eBay.

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