It has been a recurring theme during the last two GPU releases from Nvidia: Team Green introduces a flagship 90 series card that boasts significant power but is tough to acquire at its suggested retail price (MSRP) due to limited availability. We saw this scenario unfold with both the RTX 3090 and the RTX 4090. Now, it appears that the upcoming RTX 5090, scheduled for launch on January 30 at an MSRP of $1,999, is likely to face a similar challenge.
Supply Concerns
Recent reports indicate that the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 will have limited launch stock, potentially leading to a shortage of models at MSRP. For example, Moore’s Law Is Dead reported just days ago that even AIBs (Add-in-Board partners) are anticipating a supply situation akin to that of the RTX 3090.
PowerGPU, a company specializing in custom gaming PCs, has corroborated MLID’s claims and cautioned gamers on X that “the launch of the RTX 5090 will be the worst when it comes to availability.” They do not foresee any improvements “for the first 3 months”.
Retailer Differences
It’s important to note that the supply chain used by custom PC builders may differ from that of larger retailers like Best Buy. This means that the overall stock levels could be somewhat better for these major retailers.
If the RTX 5090 does indeed face stock shortages at launch, gamers can expect that the models priced at the official MSRP will be the most difficult to find. This aligns with the fact that the RTX 5090 variants priced at $2,000 will represent the lowest price point. AIBs typically prefer to equip flagship GeForce cards with premium cooling systems and sell them at higher prices than Nvidia’s Founders Edition models.
Scalper Activity
Moreover, if the demand for these GPUs exceeds supply, scalpers will likely swoop in to grab as much stock as they can, reselling the cards at inflated prices. We observed a similar pattern during the launches of the RTX 3090 and RTX 4090.
In conclusion, it remains to be seen whether the launch of the RTX 5090 will be more favorable or less so compared to the RTX 4090 and the RTX 3090. We sincerely hope that the rumors regarding stock difficulties are exaggerated.
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