Nvidia RTX 5090 Campers Brave January Cold Despite Retailer Warnings

The excitement surrounding the launch of Nvidia's new GPU generation is palpable, with the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 set to hit the market on January 30. Our RTX 5090 review hailed it as "the fastest graphics card on the consumer market," fueling the anticipation for these high-end GPUs. Priced at $2,000 for the RTX 5090 and $1,000 for the RTX 5080, these cards are not just high-performing but also come with a premium price tag. Despite this, the demand appears unwavering, though rumors suggest that stock will be extremely limited, especially for the RTX 5090, with one UK retailer claiming to have only "single digit" stock.

The fervor has led to eager enthusiasts and potential scalpers camping outside Micro Center's Tustin location in California, days ahead of the launch. Reddit and the Unofficial Micro Center Discord channel have been buzzing with images of tents set up outside the store, hinting at the possibility of scalping activities due to the anticipated low stock. One camper, who identified himself on a thread, stated, “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.” He further emphasized that the atmosphere among those waiting was "very nice and respectful." According to the Unofficial Micro Center Discord channel, there are now up to 10 tents and around 24 people waiting at the Tustin location.

In anticipation of the launch, Micro Center released a YouTube video outlining its strategy for the RTX 5090 and 5080, explicitly discouraging camping outside their stores during 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 outside for new graphics cards at Micro Center is not a new phenomenon, as evidenced by YouTuber Austin Evans, who captured similar scenes at the same Tustin location during the RTX 3070 launch in 2020. Micro Center will use a voucher system to confirm purchases on a first-come-first-serve basis, with no choice over the specific model of GPU available for purchase. Customers will be limited to one card each, and despite discouraging camping, Micro Center advises arriving early to secure a chance at these coveted GPUs.