The highly anticipated RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUs have launched, creating a frenzy in the market. These powerful, premium cards quickly sold out at most retailers, leaving many prospective buyers disappointed.
Consequently, both GPUs, particularly the RTX 5090, are experiencing significant price gouging on secondary marketplaces like eBay. Shortly after release, RTX 5090s were fetching over $6,000, a price that has since escalated to a shocking $9,000—a 350% markup from the MSRP of $1,999.
This exorbitant demand stems from the RTX 5090's suitability for AI workloads, making it attractive to AI startups and businesses seeking local model processing. With Nvidia's datacenter GPUs often out of reach, the RTX 5090 becomes a viable, albeit expensive, alternative.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Images
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The gaming community's response to the scarcity and scalping is notable. eBay is now flooded 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 [sic] is 8 inches by 8 inches, I got the frame from Target. DO NOT BUY IF YOU’RE A HUMAN.”
Another completed listing, sold for $2,457, clearly indicated: “Geforce RTX 5090 (read description) Picture Only - Not the Actual Item,” with a similar disclaimer against refunds.
This situation highlights the lack of competition in the high-end consumer GPU market. With AMD's RX 9070 series seemingly failing to challenge Nvidia's dominance and Intel lagging behind, Nvidia's market control is evident. The current shortage and inflated pricing present a challenging landscape for high-end PC builders and enthusiasts.
