The anticipation for Nvidia's next GPU generation is palpable as we approach the launch of the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 on January 30. In our RTX 5090 review, we hailed it as "the fastest graphics card on the consumer market," fueling the excitement even further. These high-end cards come with hefty price tags of $2,000 for the RTX 5090 and $1,000 for the RTX 5080, yet the demand remains incredibly high. Rumors suggest that stock will be extremely limited, with a UK retailer reporting only "single digit" availability for the RTX 5090.
This scarcity has led to eager enthusiasts camping outside Micro Center’s Tustin location in California, well in advance of the launch date. Images of these campsites have surfaced on Reddit and the Unofficial Micro Center Discord channel, sparking discussions and concerns about potential scalping. One camper clarified their intentions on Reddit, stating, "Hello everyone, I’m the guy that you guys are talking about in the second tent. And yes, we are buying it for our own use, no trades and no sells. We just don’t want to pay for that extra $ for a gaming card and yes we do have some times on our hands because we run a business. Good luck to everyone who are trying to get one." They further noted that the atmosphere among the campers is "very nice and respectful." As of now, around 24 people are waiting in up to 10 tents at the Tustin location, according to the Discord channel.
In preparation for the launch, Micro Center released a YouTube video outlining their strategy for distributing the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080. They explicitly discouraged camping outside their stores in the cold January weather, stating, "We do discourage camping at our locations for the 5090 and 5080." Despite this, they advised customers to arrive early to secure a GPU on a first-come-first-serve basis via a voucher system, with only one card allowed per customer and no choice in the specific model.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Photos
5 Images
The scene at Micro Center is not unprecedented; YouTuber Austin Evans captured similar enthusiasm during the RTX 3070 launch at the same Tustin location back in 2020. As the launch date nears, the excitement and competition for these coveted GPUs continue to intensify.
