The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 has become one of the hardest-to-find graphics cards, with a global shortage affecting availability. Many customers are facing long waiting times, with some delays stretching up to 16 weeks.
Overclockers UK (OCUK) confirmed that all RTX 50 series graphics cards sold out within hours of release. Due to overwhelming demand, the retailer has temporarily halted pre-orders. Customers who have not received shipping confirmation are being placed in a pre-order queue.
Estimated availability and price surge
The RTX 5090 is expected to be available within 3 to 16 weeks, while the RTX 5080 may arrive sooner, with an estimated wait time of 2 to 6 weeks. However, supply remains uncertain.
Scalpers are taking advantage of the shortage, selling RTX 50 series cards at two to three times their retail price on platforms like eBay. The RTX 5090, which has an MSRP of $1,999, is being resold for $2,300 to $2,600. The RTX 5080, originally priced at $999, is now selling for $1,100 to $1,300.
The shortage is partly due to Nvidia’s reliance on TSMC’s wafer production, which is also used for Blackwell accelerators. This competition for manufacturing capacity has further limited the supply of RTX 50 series GPUs.
Retailer Measures and Stock Rumors
In Japan, retailers are using a lottery system to allow customers to purchase the RTX 5090 or 5080. Reports indicate that some retailers had no RTX 5090 stock at all on launch day. Others, like MSI, will not ship the RTX 5090 until February 6.
Industry experts suggest that RTX 5090 stock will remain tight until at least March 2025, while RTX 5080 availability could improve sooner. Meanwhile, AMD’s RX 9070 is expected to launch in March 2025, possibly as a competitor.
For now, consumers are advised to hold onto their existing graphics cards. Supply remains tight, and prices are much higher than expected due to scalping.
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