People Are Already Camping Out for an Nvidia RTX 5090, Despite Retailer Warning About the January Cold

The highly anticipated Nvidia RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 are set to launch on January 30th, generating significant excitement among gamers. Our RTX 5090 review hailed it as the fastest consumer graphics card available, fueling intense demand.

Despite the hefty price tags – $2,000 for the RTX 5090 and $1,000 for the RTX 5080 – pre-orders and expected stock are reportedly extremely limited. One UK retailer claims to have only a "single-digit" number of RTX 5090 units.

This scarcity has led to an unusual scene outside a Micro Center store in Tustin, California. Days before the launch, individuals have set up tents, sparking debate on social media platforms like Reddit and the Unofficial Micro Center Discord server. Concerns have arisen that some may be scalpers aiming to profit from the limited supply.

Campers already appeared
by u/Temporary-Director46 in Microcenter

Images circulating online show multiple tents occupied by individuals awaiting the launch. One camper clarified on Reddit that their group intends to purchase the cards for personal use, dispelling speculation of reselling. Reports suggest up to ten tents and approximately 24 people are currently waiting.

Micro Center, in a YouTube video, advised against camping, citing the inclement January weather. The company will employ a voucher system to manage purchases on a first-come, first-served basis, with no choice of specific GPU model. A one-card-per-customer limit is in place. While discouraging camping, Micro Center still recommends early arrival to secure a purchase.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Photos

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This isn't unprecedented; YouTuber Austin Evans documented similar scenes at the same Tustin location during the RTX 3070 launch in 2020.