Nvidia's GeForce RTX 5070 Founders Edition graphics card has been delayed, with the company announcing that it won't launch alongside other 5070 models. Instead, the Founders Edition will be available "later in March," according to Nvidia GeForce global PR director Ben Berraondo. This means that consumers who want to get their hands on the $549 graphics card will either have to wait until the later launch date or consider third-party versions from companies such as Asus and MSI, which will be available on March 5th.

The delay is the latest development in what has been a rocky launch for Nvidia's 50-series chips. The RTX 5070 series was originally set to launch on February 28th but was delayed, and now the Founders Edition is facing a separate delay. The news comes as reviews of the RTX 5070 have started to drop, with some critics expressing disappointment that the card doesn't quite live up to Nvidia's claims of offering similar performance to the $1,599 RTX 4090.

According to Berraondo, the following manufacturers will have 5070 cards available at MSRP cost starting from March 5th: Asus, Colorful, Gainward, GALAX, Gigabyte, INNO3D, KFA2, MSI, Palit, PNY, and Zotac. This means that consumers who want to get their hands on a 5070 card sooner rather than later will have to opt for a third-party version.

The delay and mixed reviews for the RTX 5070 Founders Edition are the latest in a series of issues affecting Nvidia's 50-series chips. The company has faced criticism for "rare" manufacturing issues with RTX 5090 and 5070 Ti cards that were missing physical render output units (ROPs). The problems have led to a rocky start for Nvidia's latest generation of graphics cards, and the delayed launch of the Founders Edition is unlikely to help matters.

Despite the setbacks, the RTX 5070 remains an important product for Nvidia, offering a more affordable option for gamers who want to experience the latest graphics technology. The delayed launch of the Founders Edition may not be ideal, but it's likely that Nvidia is working to ensure that the card meets its high standards before releasing it to the public.

In the meantime, consumers who want to get their hands on a 5070 card will have to opt for a third-party version or wait until the Founders Edition is released later in March. The delay may be frustrating for some, but it's likely that Nvidia is taking the necessary steps to ensure that its product meets customer expectations.