Custom PC builder explains why its RTX 5090 builds cost $5,000+: "We're getting scalped!"

[midian182]

A hot potato: Remember during the chip crisis when people were so desperate for graphics cards that they were buying prebuilds just for the GPUs? The complete lack of RTX 5000 stock has led some gamers to once again consider this extreme measure, but one desktop vendor has warned, "we're getting scalped," meaning custom RTX 5090 builds are priced at $5,000 or more.

Jese Martinez, CEO of custom PC builder PowerGPU, posted a video on X explaining that the company is facing the same problems with securing RTX 5090 cards as everyone else.

The RTX 5090 has an MSRP of $1,999, but finding one at that price (or in stock at retailers) right now is an impossibility. Martinez says system integrators like PowerGPU are facing the same issues.

The CEO says it took two to three weeks after launch for PowerGPU to receive the first batch of RTX 5090 cards. Now, he says the company is "getting scalped, literally."

Martinez says PowerGPU is being offered RTX 5090s anywhere from $3,050 to $3,100, which isn't far from what you'd pay for one on eBay. And that isn't even for the high-end models like the Asus ROG Astral; it's the price for low- to mid-range models.

A significant video from our founder/CEO on the RTX 5090 pricing. pic.twitter.com/6GEvYFkD9K

– PowerGPU (@PowerGPU) March 13, 2025

It's due to these massive prices that custom builds with RTX 5090 cards on PowerGPU's website cost around $5,000. Right now, adding an RTX 5090 to one of the company's custom builds adds $3,450 to the total cost. There's also a warning that the current ETA for these cards is three to four months.

Martinez says these prices have led to some clients accusing PowerGPU of scalping. "We explain it to them. This is literally what's happening right now with this market. It is insane," he said.

"People are willing to pay for it, but I feel horrible," Martinez adds. "I just feel gross. Like, literally my whole team, we all feel just disgusted when we see these prices."

It's not just PowerGPU; other system builders are being forced to add astronomical prices to PCs with RTX 5090s.

A message in the video also mentions the 20% tariff that the Trump administration implemented on goods from China playing a part in the prices. But PowerGPU says that companies are taking advantage of the tariffs by charging more than 20% for these items.

Further illustrating the RTX 5000 pricing problem, manufacturer Colorful has partnered with an Indian retailer for a competition in which three "winners" get to buy an RTX 5080 at its MSRP.

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Custom PC builder explains why its RTX 5090 builds cost $5,000+: "We're getting scalped!"

 

[yRaz]

Earlier adopter price for high end luxury hardware, don't really feel bad for anyone paying that and still complaining. It's not like this is going to be the new normal, it'll take a few months, but prices will come down. If your 4090 isn't good enough and you need a 5090 NOW, then I don't wany to hear people pouting about paying high prices. It's these people's fault for paying scalper pricing that scalpers even exist

 

[FaTaL]

"People are willing to pay for it, but I feel horrible," Martinez adds. "I just feel gross. Like, literally my whole team, we all feel just disgusted when we see these prices."

This wins bullsht quote of the year.

 

[godrilla]

Alienware has 5080 and 4090 pc prebuilt .

 

[Thatsdisgusting]

"People are willing to pay for it, but I feel horrible," Martinez adds. "I just feel gross. Like, literally my whole team, we all feel just disgusted when we see these prices."

Oh no! Anyways…

Though one thing he is right - yeah Im talking about usefull *****s “willing” to pay triple for this stuff, especially for mid ranged 40(50) 80 and 70 Ti’s. I can get it when early fanatic adopters pay 10 grands at the launch for halo such as 5090.
But 5070 non Ti? For 1000$? Considering it has a chip comparable to 3060 resource wise.

Can’t live without videogames and virtual on screen girlfriend I suppose, but also incapable to comprehend that they could have got either 5090 or 5070 with capable 475mm chip ACTUALLY capable of beating 4090 for the same money.

 

[Str8Shot]

Hard to believe this nonsense, that a company that buys GPUs at wholesale, can’t secure a GPU at less than MSRP. This guy is no more honest than a used car salesman.

 

[Robertrogue]

This just reminds me why I still have a fifteen year old gaming machine and how I still enjoy the old games. Running a 980 with my I5 and still enjoy BO and COD I II III plus Wolfenstein. It would seem I have saved close to $100k not buying into the every year or so new launch for the "next best thing". I do not feel bad for people spending tens of thousands of their money on these things, let them. It doesn't effect my bank accounts or my retirement accounts......wait, actually it does affect my retirement accounts, keep making my stocks go up by purchasing over inflated products, I am cashing in! To be truthful, I would love to build a new gaming machine, but spending $5k to $15k to build a gaming machine is way too much.

 

[AnilD]

We’ve come full circle. First, gamers were buying prebuilt PCs just for the GPUs. Now, companies are buying GPUs just to sell prebuilt PCs. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if Nvidia announced a Founders Edition that comes with a mortgage application.

 

[Robertrogue]

We’ve come full circle. First, gamers were buying prebuilt PCs just for the GPUs. Now, companies are buying GPUs just to sell prebuilt PCs. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if Nvidia announced a Founders Edition that comes with a mortgage application.

 

[redgarl]

How can anyone still able to doubt that this is the fault of the AIBs...?

MSI, Asus, Gigabyte, Asrock, XFX, Powercolor, Zotac, PNY... name them... all of them.

They know they can ask whatever price and they know they will sell!

 

[human7]

$5000 is not really surprising for a 5090. In fact, you'd be hard pressed not to find a complete system for much less. I bought a North with a 5090 and 9800X3D from Maingear for around $5500 not long before inauguration day (I would have waited for the reviews if the tariff threats weren't an issue, my other system is from early 2019 and I did not want to go another 4 years without upgrading). Of course that also includes a liquid cooled CPU, which always adds a premium, the SSD/hard drives I choose adds to the price, and when spending that much money I want a warranty on the whole system, so that added a bit. But, I also wasn't really overcharged by them. I don't know about now, but a couple months ago if you switched to different GPUs the price delta was about what you would expect based on MSRP.

Back in 2019 I spent a little over 4 grand for a 2080 Ti and a liquid cooled 2950X, so spending 5500 today is a bit more, but after adjusting for inflation the price delta is only another $500 or so.

What I don't understand is the people who upgrade to the flagship every single generation. That's spending on average, I dunno, $1000-1500 or so a year depending on model just on the GPU, let alone any other PC component. Everyone has their hobbies, I guess, but that's too rich for my blood.

 

[Jeff Murray]

It seems Sam Altman and Scalpers are the only folks that can buy 5090 series cards.
That doesn't say much for NVIDIA, does it?

 

[Dimitriid]

The solution will be to force Nvidia to exit the consumer GPU market by making them back up their launch date with proof of actual inventory: Third party watch dog should gauge the demand leading up to the release based on not just preorders and customer inquiries but also the amount Nvidia spent on marketing (I.e. If Nvidia spends 100 million in marketing expecting 10x returns then they should have enough inventory to get all 10x returns assuming 100% sales would happen on day one)

Basically make it so it's illegal to do paper launches: You either show regulators you have an actual mountain of GPUs waiting for release or you're not allowed to 'Officially launch' your product until such a time where you can actually match 100% of your preorders from all customers and distributors to physical stock waiting to be sold day 1.

Sad part is that this I know how absolutely crazy this sounds but we've been conditioned to expect market manipulation and paper launches for so long that the bare minimum in terms of consumer protection sound like it would bankrupt most companies attempting such launches. Fairness sounding inconceivable should let you know just how much damage Nvidia has done to the PC market.