The highly anticipated RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUs have launched, but their high price and limited supply have created a frenzy. Both cards quickly sold out at most retailers, leaving many potential buyers disappointed.
Consequently, resale markets, particularly eBay, are flooded with heavily inflated listings. The RTX 5090, in particular, is being scalped aggressively, with prices initially exceeding $6,000 and reaching a shocking peak of $9,000—a 350% markup over its $1,999 MSRP.
This exorbitant demand stems from the RTX 5090's suitability for both gaming and demanding AI workloads. Startups and AI businesses, often unable to afford Nvidia's datacenter GPUs, see the RTX 5090 as a viable, albeit expensive, alternative for local model processing.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Images
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The gaming community's response to the scarcity and rampant scalping is…interesting. eBay is now rife with deceptive listings selling images of the RTX 5090 instead of the actual GPU.
One listing explicitly states: "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 detentions is 8 inches by 8 inches, I got the frame from Target. DO NOT BUY IF YOU’RE A HUMAN.”
Another listing, which sold for $2,457, clearly states: “Geforce RTX 5090 (read description) Picture Only - Not the Actual Item,” with a similar disclaimer regarding non-refundable image purchases.
This situation highlights the lack of competition in the high-end consumer GPU market. With AMD's RX 9070 series seemingly unable to challenge Nvidia's dominance, and Intel trailing behind, Nvidia's market control is evident. The current shortage and inflated prices present a significant challenge for high-end PC builders and enthusiasts.
