January 2026 kicked off with a flurry of activity in the PC gaming world, dominated by the highly anticipated release of NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 50 series, new CPU offerings from both AMD and Intel, and the usual CES hardware showcase. The market is currently grappling with a RAM shortage, influencing build recommendations and pricing.
Graphics Cards: The RTX 50 Series Arrives
The biggest news is undoubtedly the launch of NVIDIA’s “Blackwell” architecture-based RTX 50 series. These new cards promise a significant leap in AI-driven rendering and ray tracing capabilities.
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series: The initial lineup includes the high-end RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, along with the more mainstream RTX 5070. These cards feature next-generation Tensor Cores for improved DLSS performance and RT Cores for enhanced ray tracing.
- AMD Radeon RX 8000 Series (RDNA 4): AMD is expected to launch its next-generation RDNA 4 GPUs in early 2025, with at least one RX 8000 series card arriving in January. These cards will focus on improved ray tracing performance and new AI capabilities.
- Availability: Early reports indicate that the RTX 5090 and 5080 are already seeing high demand, and there are rumors of potential production pauses for some models later in the year.
Processors: The Battle for Gaming Supremacy Continues
The CPU market is a fiercely contested battleground between AMD and Intel, with both companies offering powerful options for gamers.
- AMD: AMD’s Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Ryzen 9 9950X3D are the current champions for gaming performance, leveraging their massive 3D V-Cache to deliver top-tier frame rates. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D remains a very strong and more affordable alternative.
- Intel: Intel has confirmed its next-generation “Nova Lake” desktop CPUs for late 2026. These processors are targeted squarely at gamers and are rumored to feature a large Last-Level Cache to compete with AMD’s 3D V-Cache technology. In the meantime, Intel’s Core Ultra series processors offer a range of options for different budgets and performance needs.
Other Notable Hardware and Trends
- RAM Shortage: A current shortage of DDR5 RAM is impacting PC build costs and availability. This is something to keep in mind if you’re planning a new build or upgrade.
- CES 2026: The Consumer Electronics Show featured a wide array of new gaming hardware, including high-refresh-rate OLED monitors, new PC cases, and innovative peripherals from companies like ASUS ROG.
- Retro-Inspired Builds: MAINGEAR launched its “Retro98” series of pre-built PCs, housing modern high-end components like the RTX 5090 and Ryzen 9 9950X3D inside a vintage beige chassis, catering to nostalgic gamers.
The Path Forward
The first half of 2026 promises to be an exciting time for PC gamers, as the full potential of the new RTX 50 series GPUs is realized in upcoming game titles. The ongoing competition between AMD and Intel in the CPU space will continue to drive innovation and push performance boundaries. However, prospective builders will need to navigate the current RAM shortage carefully.