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 consumers 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, with prices escalating to a shocking $9,000 – a 350% markup over the MSRP of $1,999.

This exorbitant pricing is driven by the RTX 5090's suitability for AI workloads, making it attractive to AI startups and businesses seeking local model processing capabilities. With Nvidia's datacenter GPUs often inaccessible, the RTX 5090 becomes a viable, albeit expensive, alternative.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Images

5 ImagesThe gaming community's response to the scarcity and price inflation 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 GPU.

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 stems from the lack of substantial competition in the high-end consumer GPU market. With AMD's RX 9070 series seemingly unable 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.