The recent launch of Nvidia's RTX 5090 and 5080 graphics cards has ignited a wave of scalping in the market, with the RTX 5090 reaching staggering resale prices up to $9,000, a 350% increase from its MSRP of $1,999. This supply shortage has prompted buyers, especially those in AI businesses, to seek these powerful GPUs for their exceptional performance, creating a frenzy among tech enthusiasts. Unfortunately, the gaming community is fighting back against scalpers with creative backlash, including fake listings on eBay offering framed photos of the GPUs, amusingly warning potential buyers not to purchase unless they are bots. The dominance of Nvidia in the high-end GPU market amid insufficient competition complicates the situation for gamers hoping to build powerful PCs.

Why are Nvidia RTX 5090 graphics cards so expensive?

The Nvidia RTX 5090 graphics cards are expensive primarily due to high demand and a significant supply shortage. Their advanced capabilities not only cater to demanding gaming but also serve AI workloads, making them highly sought after by professionals in tech industries.

The RTX 5090 is part of Nvidia's latest line of GPUs designed to push the boundaries of performance in gaming and AI applications. As a flagship product, it brings substantial improvements in ray tracing, rendering, and machine learning tasks compared to previous models. Its unique features and capabilities make it a popular choice amongst gamers and developers alike, driving both consumer interest and the subsequent scalping phenomenon.