Nvidia's highly anticipated RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 graphics cards have finally launched, creating a frenzy among gamers and professionals alike. These powerful, premium-priced GPUs have become instant bestsellers, selling out rapidly across most retailers and leaving countless eager buyers disappointed.
This overwhelming demand has led to rampant scalping, particularly for the flagship RTX 5090, on online marketplaces like eBay. Shortly after launch, prices for the RTX 5090 soared past the $6,000 mark. They have since climbed even higher, with some listings reaching a staggering $9,000. This represents a massive 350% markup over the card's manufacturer-suggested retail price (MSRP) of $1,999.
Why are consumers willing to pay such exorbitant prices? The appeal of the RTX 5090 extends beyond gaming to high-performance AI computing. This makes it a highly sought-after component for AI startups and businesses looking to run models on local hardware. For many, Nvidia's dedicated Datacenter GPUs are financially out of reach, making the RTX 5090 the most viable alternative, regardless of its inflated resale cost.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Photos
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In response to the severe supply shortages and opportunistic scalpers, the gaming community is fighting back with creative protests. eBay is now flooded with misleading listings designed to dupe buyers into purchasing not the actual RTX 5090 card, but merely a photograph of it.
One such listing explicitly warns potential bidders: "Bots and scalpers welcome, do not buy if you are a human. You will receive a framed 8x8 inch photo of the RTX 5090, sourced from Target. You will not receive the actual graphics card. DO NOT BUY IF YOU'RE A HUMAN."
Another completed listing, which sold for $2,457, was clearly titled: “Geforce RTX 5090 (read description) Picture Only - Not the Actual Item.” The description reiterated that the purchase was for a non-refundable image, not the physical GPU.
The core of this problem is the lack of strong competition in the high-end consumer GPU space. With AMD's RX 9070 series unlikely to challenge Nvidia's performance leadership and Intel still playing catch-up, Nvidia holds a dominant position. The combination of constrained supply and unprecedented pricing creates a challenging and disheartening environment for PC builders and enthusiasts seeking top-tier components.
