The excitement surrounding the launch of Nvidia's new GPU generation, featuring the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, is palpable as the release date of January 30 approaches. Our RTX 5090 review hailed it as "the fastest graphics card on the consumer market," fueling the anticipation for these high-end graphics cards. Priced at $2,000 for the RTX 5090 and $1,000 for the RTX 5080, these GPUs are not for the faint of wallet, yet the demand remains sky-high. Rumors suggest that stock will be extremely limited, with a UK retailer claiming to have only "single digit" stock for the RTX 5090.
The fervor has led to eager enthusiasts camping outside Micro Center’s Tustin location in California, days before the launch. Images of tents and campers have surfaced on Reddit and the Unofficial Micro Center Discord channel, raising concerns about potential scalpers looking to capitalize on the low stock. A Reddit thread features a camper from the second tent asserting their intention to use the GPU personally, not for resale, and describing the atmosphere among the campers as "very nice and respectful." As of now, there are reportedly up to 10 tents and around 24 people waiting at the Tustin location.
Micro Center has addressed the situation in a YouTube video, discouraging camping due to the cold January weather. "We do discourage camping at our locations for the 5090 and 5080," the company stated. Despite this, they will implement a first-come-first-serve voucher system for purchases, with no choice in the specific model of GPU available. Customers are limited to one card each, and while camping is discouraged, Micro Center advises arriving early to secure a purchase.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Photos
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The scene at Micro Center is reminiscent of past GPU launches, such as the RTX 3070 in 2020, documented by YouTuber Austin Evans at the same Tustin location. As the launch date nears, the anticipation and strategic planning among potential buyers continue to intensify.
