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 anticipation for this new generation.

Despite their premium prices—$2,000 for the RTX 5090 and $1,000 for the RTX 5080—demand is exceptionally high. However, reports suggest extremely limited stock, with one UK retailer reporting only single-digit 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, prompting speculation about potential scalpers aiming to capitalize on the low stock. Images shared on Reddit and the Unofficial Micro Center Discord server show multiple tents occupied by people waiting for the GPUs.

One camper, clarifying their presence on Reddit, stated they are purchasing for personal use and not for resale. The number of campers has reportedly grown to approximately 24 individuals across 10 tents.

Micro Center, in a YouTube video, advised against camping, citing the inclement January weather. Their launch strategy involves a first-come, first-served voucher system, offering no choice of specific GPU model. A one-card-per-customer limit is in place, and 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 the first instance of such lines at Micro Center; YouTuber Austin Evans documented a similar event at the same Tustin location during the RTX 3070 launch in 2020.