NVIDIA May Restart GeForce RTX 3060 Production at Samsung Foundry

The GeForce RTX 3060 was one of NVIDIA’s most popular graphics cards, offering 3,584 CUDA cores and up to 12GB of GDDR6 memory. According to a report from Korean outlet Hankyung, Samsung Foundry is now preparing to restart production of the GPU.

If accurate, the move would bring the Ampere-based RTX 3060 back roughly two years after manufacturing reportedly ended.

Samsung may manufacture the GPU again using its 8nm process

The report claims that Samsung will again produce the RTX 3060 using its 8nm fabrication node. This is the same process technology used when the GPU originally launched in early 2021.

Production of the card declined after NVIDIA shifted manufacturing of its newer RTX 40-series GPUs to TSMC in late 2022. The RTX 3060 was eventually discontinued in 2024.

However, rumors from Chinese supply chain sources recently suggested that NVIDIA may ship additional RTX 3060 units during the current quarter.

Older GPUs are gaining attention due to AI demand

Graphics cards like the RTX 3060 were originally designed for gaming and graphics workloads on PCs and consoles. In recent years, however, many of these GPUs have also been used for artificial intelligence workloads.

The Hankyung report links the potential production restart to export restrictions on advanced AI chips. These restrictions primarily affect shipments to China and other regions.

Because of those limits, NVIDIA may consider selling older GPU models that fall outside the restricted categories.

Export policy uncertainty may influence NVIDIA’s strategy

U.S. officials are reportedly discussing new frameworks governing AI chip exports. This regulatory uncertainty has created additional pressure on semiconductor companies that rely on global markets.

Older GPUs could provide an alternative product option in regions where advanced AI accelerators cannot be shipped.

During CES 2026, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang also hinted that bringing back older GPUs could help relieve pressure in the gaming market. Prices for high-end GPUs such as the RTX 5090 and RTX 5070 have surged recently, creating supply concerns.

Despite the reports, NVIDIA has not officially confirmed that RTX 3060 production will restart.

NVIDIA continues pushing forward with new AI hardware

While rumors about older GPUs circulate, NVIDIA continues advancing its next-generation hardware.

The company recently shipped early samples of its Vera Rubin VR200 platform to partners. Huang also teased upcoming processors at NVIDIA GTC, promising chips “the world has never seen.”

For now, the possible return of the RTX 3060 remains unconfirmed, but the reports highlight how demand for GPUs continues to shift as artificial intelligence workloads expand across the industry.

Via VideoCardz