Nvidia Warns of Shortages for RTX 5090/5080 Launch

The highly anticipated Nvidia RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 graphics cards are set to launch on January 30th, but concerns about immediate shortages are mounting. Reports from retailers and manufacturers suggest limited initial stock.

With eager buyers already lining up, the RTX 5090 ($1,999) and RTX 5080 ($999) are expected to be incredibly popular, despite their premium prices. Manufacturer MSI attributes the initial scarcity to the Lunar New Year, anticipating stock stabilization in February.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Images

5 ImagesRetailers like Overclockers UK have reported extremely low initial allocations of the RTX 5090, further fueling concerns. PowerGPU, a US retailer, predicted severely limited availability for the RTX 5090 launch.

In response to the growing anxiety, Nvidia's Tim@Nvidia issued a statement acknowledging anticipated high demand and potential stock-outs, assuring consumers that additional stock is being shipped daily.

However, the limited supply is creating opportunities for scalpers. Pre-sale listings on eBay are already showcasing inflated prices; one Asus ROG Astral RTX 5090 is listed for a staggering $5,750 – a massive markup.

Adding to Nvidia's challenges, the company's share price experienced a significant drop following the announcement of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI model reportedly trained at a fraction of the cost of Nvidia's solutions, potentially impacting datacenter GPU sales.