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 at most retailers, leaving many gamers and professionals disappointed.
Consequently, both cards, 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 is driven by the RTX 5090's suitability for both gaming and demanding AI workloads. Startups and businesses involved in AI are eager to acquire these GPUs for local model processing, as Nvidia's datacenter GPUs are often inaccessible to smaller operations. The RTX 5090 becomes a viable, albeit costly, alternative.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Images
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The current situation hasn't gone unnoticed. eBay is now flooded with fraudulent listings designed to deceive buyers. These listings deceptively advertise RTX 5090s, but instead deliver only a framed photograph of the card.
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 indicates: “Geforce RTX 5090 (read description) Picture Only - Not the Actual Item,” with a similar disclaimer regarding non-refundable image purchases.
The core problem stems from 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 still playing catch-up, Nvidia holds a near monopoly. The resulting scarcity and inflated prices present a significant challenge for high-end PC builders and enthusiasts.
