The anticipation for Nvidia's new GPU generation is reaching its peak as the launch date of January 30 approaches, introducing the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 to the market. In our RTX 5090 review, we hailed it as "the fastest graphics card on the consumer market," fueling excitement among gamers and tech enthusiasts alike. Priced at $2,000 for the RTX 5090 and $1,000 for the RTX 5080, these high-end graphics cards come with a hefty price tag, yet the demand remains incredibly high. Reports suggest that stock will be extremely limited, with one UK retailer claiming they only have "single digit" stock for the RTX 5090.

The buzz around these GPUs has led to dedicated fans camping outside Micro Center's Tustin location in California, days before the official release. Images of tents have surfaced on Reddit and the Unofficial Micro Center Discord channel, prompting speculation about the presence of scalpers looking to capitalize on the low stock situation. A post on Reddit by Temporary-Director46 showcases the scene, with several tents occupied by hopeful buyers.

Campers already appeared byu/Temporary-Director46 inMicrocenter

One camper clarified their intentions in a Reddit thread, stating, "Hello everyone, I’m the guy that you guys are talking about in the second tent. And yes, we are buying it for our own use, no trades and no sells. We just don’t want to pay for that extra $ for a gaming card and yes we do have some times on our hands because we run a business. Good luck to everyone who are trying to get one." They also mentioned that the atmosphere among the campers is "very nice and respectful." As of now, there are reportedly up to 10 tents and around 24 people waiting at the Tustin location, according to the Micro Center Unofficial Discord channel.

Ahead of the launch, Micro Center shared its strategy for the RTX 5090 and 5080 in a YouTube video, explicitly discouraging camping due to the cold January weather. "We do discourage camping at our locations for the 5090 and 5080," the company stated.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Photos

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Camping for new graphics cards at Micro Center is not a new phenomenon, as evidenced by YouTuber Austin Evans, who documented a similar scene at the Tustin location during the RTX 3070 launch in 2020. Purchases will be managed through a voucher system on a first-come-first-serve basis, with no choice in the specific GPU model. Customers are limited to one card each, and despite discouraging camping, Micro Center advises early arrivals to avoid disappointment.