Nvidia RTX 5090 eBay Price Hits $9,000 Amid User Protests Using Framed Photos to Outsmart Bots

The highly anticipated RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUs have finally hit the market, and they've become the hottest commodities in the tech world. These high-powered, high-priced graphics cards have sold out almost instantly at most retail outlets, leaving many eager buyers disappointed.

As a result, scalpers have swooped in, driving up prices on resale platforms like eBay. The RTX 5090, in particular, has seen a dramatic surge in price. Initially, these cards were being resold for over $6,000, but now they've reached a staggering peak of $9,000—a 350% markup from their original MSRP of $1,999.

Why are people willing to shell out such exorbitant sums? The RTX 5090 isn't just a powerhouse for gaming; it's also a vital tool for AI workloads. Startups and businesses in the AI sector are eager to get their hands on these chips to run models locally. Since Nvidia's Datacenter GPUs are often out of reach for many, the RTX 5090 becomes their next best option, regardless of the inflated aftermarket prices.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Photos

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However, the gaming community isn't sitting idly by amidst this supply shortage and scalping frenzy. eBay is now flooded with deceptive listings aimed at tricking buyers into purchasing an image of the RTX 5090, rather than the actual card. One such listing humorously states, "Bots and scalpers welcome, do not buy if you are a human, you will be getting a framed photo of the 5090, you will not receive the 5090. The photo dimensions are 8 inches by 8 inches, I got the frame from Target. DO NOT BUY IF YOU’RE A HUMAN.” Another sold listing for $2,457 reads, “Geforce RTX 5090 (read description) Picture Only - Not the Actual Item,” with a clear warning that no refunds will be issued for the image, which is not the RTX 5090 itself.

The core issue stems from the lack of competition in the high-end consumer GPU market. With AMD's RX 9070 series unlikely to challenge Nvidia's dominance in terms of power, and Intel trailing behind, Nvidia holds a firm grip on the market. This shortage of cards and the skyrocketing prices paint a bleak outlook for high-end PC builders and enthusiasts, highlighting the urgent need for more competitive options in the GPU space.