The gaming world is abuzz following the launch of Nvidia's highly anticipated GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card, which has garnered significant headlines not only for its impressive performance but also for the controversial scalping practices surrounding its release. With extreme overclocking feats and eye-popping listings on online marketplaces, the RTX 5090 is making waves across the tech community.
At the recent CES event, Nvidia launched its RTX 5090, heralded as the most powerful graphics card to date. Among the impressive feats of this next-gen GPU is its extreme overclocking potential. Tony Yu, the China manager for ASUS, pushed the limits of the new RTX 5090 Astral model using liquid nitrogen (LN2) cooling, achieving astonishing figures like maximum GPU frequencies of 3,390 MHz and memory frequencies reaching 34 Gbps, which is 21 percent above the stock rating of 28 Gbps. "These are both impressive figures, and we can expect even higher overclock once professionals start rolling out their records," noted Yu.
When subjected to rigorous benchmarking tests—namely the 3DMark Time Spy Extreme, Fire Strike Ultra, and Port Royal—the results were equally impressive, showing uplift percentages of 25% for Port Royal and 18% for Time Spy Extreme. It’s important to note, though, this level of performance came at the cost of power consumption; the overclocked system was estimated to consume nearly 1,000 watts, bringing the total system power usage to around 1,800 watts.
Nvidia has been at the forefront of innovation, equipping the RTX 5090 with the cutting-edge Blackwell GB202 GPU, which benefits from TSMC’s advanced 4nm process technology. This new architecture houses over 92 billion transistors, allowing for staggering computational capabilities. Complementing this is GDDR7 memory, doubling the bandwidth of GDDR6 and supporting speeds of up to 1.8 TB/s. This increase explains why the RTX 5090 is priced at approximately $2,000, significantly more than its predecessors.
While the technical specifications have excited many, they’ve also raised concerns about accessibility. A troubling trend has emerged: scalpers are capitalizing on the high demand for the RTX 5090, listing cards on eBay for outrageous prices—some listings reportedly reach up to $7,000. One scalper, who claims to work for a technology retailer, stated, "I am an employee of a certain technology retailer and have guaranteed slots for a few of these GPUs. I have no interest in upgrading my current build and am looking to sell my guarantee slot for the card. By purchasing/winning the auction on this listing you are guaranteed to receive the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090". This means buyers might be snagging their cards under less-than-ideal circumstances.
Notably, the scalper also asserted, "Any potential faults with the product cannot be attributed to me, the seller. Any lack of functionality is considered a manufacturer defect, and as the seller, we cannot be attributed to fault. By purchasing this item, you agree to these terms." This raises ethical concerns, particularly since buyers are often left without the option for refunds or returns on such substantial investments.
Adding to the complexity of the graphics card market is the growing anticipation for AMD's competing RDNA 4 offerings, particularly the Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070, which are speculated to enter the market at competitive prices around $599 and $499, respectively. Should AMD successfully capture market interest at these price points, the resounding impact on Nvidia’s strategy will likely be palpable.
Gamers and tech enthusiasts await more information about the RTX 5090’s performance and availability, especially as Nvidia’s innovations signal bold advancements for gaming capabilities. Despite the excitement, the dilemma of scalpers and inflated prices casts a shadow over many would-be buyers.
With retail stocks expected to be exceptionally tight, much of the consumer interest may shift to alternatives or even lead them to explore custom PC builds featuring the RTX 5090. Mellow Mods is among the few highlighting the power of the RTX 5090 with its extravagant custom gaming PC build, fitted inside the high-end, visually stunning $7,100 EnWin Infinite case, showcasing the card’s potential fully within the workspace.
For now, discerning gamers must navigate the tumultuous waters of GPU availability amid the intense demand sparked by Nvidia's ambitious entries to the graphics card market. Many are left pondering if the promise of performance is worth the risks associated with today's purchasing climate.