The highly anticipated RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUs have launched, creating a frenzy in the market. High demand and limited supply have led to immediate sellouts across most retail channels, leaving many potential buyers disappointed.
Consequently, both GPUs, particularly the RTX 5090, are experiencing significant price gouging on secondary markets like eBay. Shortly after release, RTX 5090s were listed for 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 pricing stems from the RTX 5090's suitability for both gaming and demanding AI workloads. Startups and AI businesses, 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 this scarcity and price manipulation is noteworthy. eBay is now flooded with fraudulent listings designed to deceive buyers. These listings offer a photograph of the RTX 5090 instead of the actual product.
One such 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 regarding non-refundable image purchases.
The core problem is the lack of substantial competition in the high-end consumer GPU market. With AMD's RX 9070 series unlikely to challenge Nvidia's dominance and Intel trailing behind, Nvidia's market control is evident. The current shortage and inflated prices present a bleak outlook for high-end PC builders and enthusiasts.
