People Are Already Camping Out for an Nvidia RTX 5090, Despite Retailer Warning About the January Cold

The highly anticipated launch of Nvidia's RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 GPUs on January 30th has ignited a frenzy among gamers. Our RTX 5090 review hailed it as the fastest consumer graphics card, fueling intense anticipation. Despite the hefty price tags—$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 single-digit RTX 5090 availability.

This scarcity has led to an unusual sight: campers outside a Micro Center store in Tustin, California, days before the launch. Images circulating on Reddit and the Unofficial Micro Center Discord server show multiple tents, sparking debate about whether these individuals are legitimate buyers or scalpers aiming for a quick profit.

One camper, identified in a Reddit thread, clarified that they are purchasing for personal use and not for resale, citing business commitments as the reason for their early arrival. They also described a respectful atmosphere among the waiting crowd. Reports indicate as many as 10 tents and 24 people are now waiting.

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, with no choice of specific GPU model and a one-card-per-customer limit. While discouraging camping, Micro Center still recommends early arrival to secure a purchase.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Images

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This isn't unprecedented; YouTuber Austin Evans documented similar scenes at the same Tustin location during the RTX 3070 launch in 2020. The high demand and limited supply underscore the intense competition in the high-end GPU market.