The much-anticipated launch of Nvidia's new GPU generation is set for January 30, with the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 expected to hit the market. In our RTX 5090 review, we hailed it as "the fastest graphics card on the consumer market," a testament to the excitement surrounding this new generation of graphics cards. Priced at $2,000 for the RTX 5090 and $1,000 for the RTX 5080, these high-end GPUs come with a hefty price tag, yet demand remains sky-high. Stock is rumored to be extremely limited, with one UK retailer claiming they have only "single digit" stock of the RTX 5090, intensifying the frenzy around their release.
The buzz has led to eager enthusiasts camping outside Micro Center’s Tustin location in California days before the launch. Photos circulating on Reddit and the Unofficial Micro Center Discord channel show tents and people waiting in line, sparking concerns that some might be scalpers looking to capitalize on the low stock. One camper, identified as the occupant of the second tent, clarified on Reddit: “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." Reports indicate up to 10 tents and approximately 24 people are currently waiting at the Tustin location.
In preparation for the launch, Micro Center released a YouTube video outlining its strategy for distributing the RTX 5090 and 5080, explicitly discouraging camping outside their stores due to the cold January weather. "We do discourage camping at our locations for the 5090 and 5080," the company stated. Despite this, the retailer will use a voucher system to manage sales on a first-come-first-serve basis, with no choice in specific GPU models for those in line. Additionally, Micro Center has set a limit of one card per customer and encourages early arrivals to secure a purchase.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Photos
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Camping for new graphics cards at Micro Center is not a new phenomenon. YouTuber Austin Evans documented a similar scene at the same Tustin location during the RTX 3070 launch in 2020, highlighting the ongoing trend of enthusiasts and potential scalpers eagerly waiting for new tech releases.
