The much-anticipated RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUs hit the market yesterday, igniting a frenzy among tech enthusiasts and professionals alike. These high-powered, yet high-priced graphics cards have become the hottest commodities, quickly selling out at retail channels and leaving many eager buyers disappointed.
The scarcity has led to rampant scalping, particularly with the RTX 5090, which is now being resold on platforms like eBay for exorbitant prices. Shortly after their launch, these GPUs were snapped up and resold for over $6,000, with prices soaring to a staggering peak of $9,000—a 350% markup from their original MSRP of $1,999.
So, why are people willing to shell out such a premium for these GPUs? The RTX 5090 is not just a powerhouse for gaming but also excels in handling AI workloads. This makes it a prime target for startups and businesses in the AI sector looking to run models locally. With Nvidia's Datacenter GPUs often out of reach for many, the RTX 5090 emerges as the next best solution, despite its inflated aftermarket prices.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Photos
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However, the gaming community is not taking the supply shortage and scalping lying down. eBay is now flooded with deceptive listings aimed at tricking buyers into purchasing images of the RTX 5090 instead of the actual card.
One such listing humorously warns, "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 dimensions are 8 inches by 8 inches, I got the frame from Target. DO NOT BUY IF YOU’RE A HUMAN."
Another sold listing for $2,457 states, "Geforce RTX 5090 (read description) Picture Only - Not the Actual Item," with a similar warning that no refunds will be issued for the image, which is not the actual RTX 5090.
The underlying problem stems from the lack of competition in the high-end consumer GPU market. With AMD's RX 9070 series unable to challenge Nvidia's dominance in terms of power, and Intel trailing behind, Nvidia holds a near-monopoly. This situation, combined with the shortage of cards and their skyrocketing prices, paints a bleak outlook for high-end PC builders and enthusiasts.
