The highly anticipated RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUs have finally hit the market, stirring up a frenzy among tech enthusiasts and professionals alike. These high-powered and high-priced graphics cards became instant hot commodities, selling out rapidly at most retail channels and leaving many eager buyers disappointed.
As a result, the GPUs, particularly the RTX 5090, are facing heavy scalping on resale platforms like eBay. Shortly after their launch, RTX 5090s were being resold for over $6,000, and prices have since soared to a staggering peak of $9,000—a 350% increase over the GPU's manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $1,999.
The question arises: why are people willing to pay such exorbitant prices for these GPUs? The RTX 5090 isn't just a powerhouse for gaming; it's also a valuable asset for AI workloads. Many startups and businesses in the AI sector are eager to acquire this chip to run models locally. Given that Nvidia's Datacenter GPUs are often out of reach for many, the RTX 5090 emerges as the next best option, regardless of its inflated aftermarket price.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Photos
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However, the gaming community is not taking the supply shortage and scalpers lightly. eBay is now flooded with deceptive listings aimed at tricking potential buyers of these pricey cards. Some listings offer nothing more than an image of the RTX 5090, rather than the card itself.
One listing humorously warns: "Bots and scalpers welcome, do not buy if you are a human, you will be getting a framed photo of the 5090, you will not receive the 5090. The photo dimensions are 8 inches by 8 inches, I got the frame from Target. DO NOT BUY IF YOU’RE A HUMAN."
Meanwhile, another sold listing for $2,457 states: "Geforce RTX 5090 (read description) Picture Only - Not the Actual Item," with a similar disclaimer that no refunds will be issued for the image, which is not the RTX 5090 itself.
The core issue stems from the lack of competition in the high-end consumer GPU market. With AMD's RX 9070 series unlikely to challenge Nvidia's power dominance, and Intel trailing behind, Nvidia holds a commanding position. The shortage of cards and their staggering price points present a challenging landscape for high-end PC builders and enthusiasts.
