Campers Start Preparing for RTX 5090 Launch

Outside the Micro Center in Tustin, California, tents have begun to appear as fans eagerly await the launch of the RTX 5090, which is scheduled for later this week. As highlighted in our review, this graphics card is poised to be the finest option available, although those spending the night in the cold might not just be after top-tier performance.

Images of the determined campers have surfaced on an unofficial Micro Center subreddit (as noted by IGN), where at least two tents are visible. Despite the excitement, Micro Center has advised customers against camping out at its locations. However, they did release a detailed video discussing strategies for purchasing the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 on launch day, in which the company implies that arriving early might be wise.

Campers already appeared
by u/Temporary-Director46 in Microcenter

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Priced at $2,000, with some third-party options potentially costing even more, the RTX 5090 isn’t exactly aimed at the average consumer. Nevertheless, demand is expected to be high. Some retailers indicate they have very limited stock available for the launch, meaning it’s conceivable that both the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 could sell out within moments of becoming available.

Past trends with GPU shortages have shown that significant demand combined with low supply creates a perfect storm for scalpers. On resale platforms, prices for the RTX 5090 have already skyrocketed to over $7,000, even before it’s officially launched. In the months following the release, prices may remain elevated if stock levels continue to be limited.

Even when supply normalizes, the RTX 5090 could still command high prices. As noted by VideoCardz, the MSRP for third-party models may soar to around $2,800. While some cards may be available at the suggested retail price, reports suggest that manufacturers are limiting the number of regular-priced cards due to slim profit margins.

MSRP for custom RTX 5090 (according to @TechPowerUp):
🟡 ASUS ASTRAL: $2,800
🟡 MSI SUPRIM LIQUID SOC: $2,500
🟡 MSI SUPRIM SOC: $2,400
🟡 PALIT GAMEROCK: $2,200

— VideoCardz.com (@VideoCardz) January 24, 2025

The launch of the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 is set for Thursday, January 30. Given the images of eager campers outside of Micro Center, it seems likely that the graphics cards will sell out as soon as they hit the shelves. Hopefully, more inventory will be available shortly thereafter.