Nvidia RTX 5090 Hits $9K as Buyers Use Photo Tricks to Beat Bots

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Launch Sparks Frenzy

Yesterday marked the highly anticipated release of Nvidia's RTX 5090 and 5080 graphics cards. These premium GPUs have become instant sell-outs across retailers, leaving countless PC enthusiasts empty-handed.

Scalping Crisis Emerges

Resale platforms like eBay now show the RTX 5090 being flipped at outrageous markups. Immediately after launch, prices ballooned to $6,000+, and have since climbed to a shocking $9,000 - a 350% markup over the $1,999 MSRP.

Why the Insane Demand?

The RTX 5090's appeal extends beyond gaming to AI applications, making it coveted by startups and businesses needing powerful local processing. With Nvidia's professional-grade datacenter GPUs financially out of reach for many, consumers are forced into the inflated aftermarket.

Gamer Backlash Against Scalpers

The gaming community has responded creatively to the shortage. eBay now hosts deceptive listings selling merely photos of the GPU rather than the actual hardware.

One listing bluntly states: "Bots and scalpers welcome. Humans will receive an 8"x8" framed photo from Target - not the actual GPU." Another completed sale at $2,457 clearly specified it was selling just an image, with no refunds offered.

Market Monopoly Concerns

This crisis highlights Nvidia's unchallenged dominance in high-end GPUs. With AMD's RX 9070 series unable to compete at the performance tier and Intel still playing catch-up, Nvidia faces no meaningful competition. The combination of extreme scarcity and astronomical pricing creates a bleak outlook for PC builders and enthusiasts seeking cutting-edge hardware.