A standard RTX 5090 now costs $5,090, making Nvidia's flagship price painfully appropriate

[midian182]

WTF?! Remember those halcyon days when the RTX 5000-series was announced and we were all shocked by the prices, especially the $1,999 RTX 5090. Now, the average price for the consumer flagship is pretty much $5,000, with one regular model hitting an actual $5,090.

As we noted in our recent graphics card pricing feature that shows just how quickly prices are rising, the RTX 5090 was around $4,900 in the US recently.

Prices for the card were up 20% over the past month and are now 41% higher than in February, by far the largest six-month increase of any card in the list. The massive increase since launch means it's now 145% above MSRP.

Just days later, RTX 5090 prices have climbed even further. It's at the point now where even regular cards have reached an apt $5,090 – the price of an Asus TUF Gaming OC.

There has already been a $5,090 RTX 5090 announced, but it's far from normal: The special-edition MSI RTX 5090 Lightning Z, a 1,000W card that some describe as essentially an RTX 5090 Ti. The spec list includes two 12V-2x6 power connectors, a 3 oz copper PCB, a 40-phase VRM, and a carbon fiber backplate. It also has an attached AIO liquid cooler and an 8-inch display panel.

Now, though, that price has become the standard for many RTX 5090 cards.

But there's an even pricier RTX 5090: the Asus ROG Astral RTX 5090 Edition 20. Another special edition card, Newegg lists it for $5,740. We recently covered the story of someone who paid $10,000 for an Asus anniversary bundle that included the card, only for the order to be inexplicably canceled, forcing them to pay an extra $500 for another one.

The question now is whether anyone even buying these cards? As we pointed out in our feature, the RTX 5090 is no longer fast enough, at least not when it comes to gaming at 6K on a monitor that supports the resolution.

What's just as concerning is the prospect of the RTX 5090's price, and that of pretty much every other graphics card, continuing to rise. It's little wonder that the RTX 5000 Super series seems to have been canceled indefinitely. And who knows how much RTX 6000-series cards will cost. An RTX 6090 for $6,090, presumably.

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A standard RTX 5090 now costs $5,090, making Nvidia's flagship price painfully appropriate

 

[NumberNine]

If people continue buying, they'll continue selling.

 

[GeoffreyA]

I'd expect it's a form of conspicuous consumption, or a penis-length symbol.

 

[m4a4]

I'd expect it's a form of conspicuous consumption, or a penis-length symbol.

Or businesses just write it off as an expense. I know that's how I got one.

 

[Squid Surprise]

It’s selling for $2,899 CAD at BestBuy… who’s paying 6k USD?!?

 

[Dreadcthulhu]

Gaming has displaced a lot of traditional hobbies for 30 and 40 something men, who are hitting their stride with their careers and have plenty of money to spend on their hobbies. Even a $5k video card is less expensive that going out and buying say a motorcycle.

 

[Kirby1]

Gaming has displaced a lot of traditional hobbies for 30 and 40 something men, who are hitting their stride with their careers and have plenty of money to spend on their hobbies. Even a $5k video card is less expensive that going out and buying say a motorcycle.

Definitely this, but also the 5090 is still cheaper than a dedicated workstation GPU.

That said, I've seen a several threads online from people who bought a 5090 around launch MSRP and decided to sell it and buy a 9070XT instead, and basically make a 3-4K profit for a 30% performance downgrade and loss of Nvidia features for gaming.

 

[godrilla]

It’s selling for $2,899 CAD at BestBuy… who’s paying 6k USD?!?

Do you have proof of that?

 

[Snikk]

It’s selling for $2,899 CAD at BestBuy… who’s paying 6k USD?!?

I’m 99% sure they have not had stock at that price in ages, and 100% sure they will not re-stock at that price (if at all) - :/

 

[Squid Surprise]

I’m 99% sure they have not had stock at that price in ages, and 100% sure they will not re-stock at that price (if at all) - :/

It’s in stock… and you can order it…not gonna as I’m happy with my 4090…

 

[Joey Rakas]

Obviously none of us are fans of seeing these astronomical prices for a top-tier GPU, or GPU's in general. But cards like the 5090 are, nor ever have been for *most* gamers. And Dreadcthulhu made a good point; Spending $5,000 on a GPU is still cheaper than many other hobbies. I know many people who spend upwards of $10,000 just to Elk or Deer hunt a piece of property for a week. Not including the gear & spending associated with such adventure. So obviously there are far more expensive hobbies to have. At least with a GPU you get a 3-Year warranty lol. And let's not forget the 5090 is still simply in a class of it's own. Regardless, the GPU industry as a whole is pretty ugly right now. Let's just be grateful we can still acquire them..........