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 gamers and professionals 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, a price that has since climbed to a shocking $9,000 – a 350% markup from the MSRP of $1,999.

This exorbitant pricing is driven by the RTX 5090's suitability for both gaming and demanding AI workloads. Startups and AI businesses, often unable to afford Nvidia's datacenter GPUs, see the RTX 5090 as a viable, albeit costly, alternative for local model processing.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Images

5 ImagesThe gaming community's response to the scarcity and scalping has been inventive. eBay is now flooded with deceptive listings selling images 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 advertised: “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 unlikely to challenge Nvidia's dominance, and Intel trailing behind, Nvidia holds a near-monopoly. The resulting shortages and inflated prices present a significant challenge for high-end PC builders and enthusiasts.