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 empty-handed.

Consequently, both cards, particularly the RTX 5090, are experiencing significant price gouging on secondary marketplaces like eBay. Shortly after release, RTX 5090s were fetching over $6,000, with prices escalating to a shocking $9,000 – a 350% markup from the MSRP of $1,999.

This exorbitant pricing stems from the RTX 5090's utility beyond gaming. Its capabilities are highly sought after for AI workloads, making it attractive to AI startups and businesses needing local model processing. With Nvidia's datacenter GPUs inaccessible to many, the RTX 5090 becomes a desirable, albeit expensive, alternative.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Images

5 ImagesThe gaming community's response to the scarcity and scalping is noteworthy. eBay is now flooded with fraudulent listings designed to deceive buyers. These listings offer only 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 indicates: “Geforce RTX 5090 (read description) Picture Only - Not the Actual Item,” with a similar disclaimer regarding non-refundable image sales.

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 holds a monopoly. The current shortage and inflated prices paint a bleak outlook for high-end PC builders and enthusiasts.