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

The excitement for Nvidia's latest GPU generation is palpable as we approach the launch of the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 on January 30. Our RTX 5090 review hailed it as "the fastest graphics card on the consumer market," fueling the anticipation for these high-end graphics cards. Priced at $2,000 for the RTX 5090 and $1,000 for the RTX 5080, these cards come with a hefty price tag, yet demand remains sky-high. However, whispers of limited stock, especially for the RTX 5090, have added to the frenzy, with a UK retailer reportedly holding only "single digit" units.

The anticipation has led eager fans to start camping outside Micro Center’s Tustin location in California, days before the launch. Photos circulating on Reddit and the Unofficial Micro Center Discord channel reveal a growing encampment, raising concerns that some might be scalpers looking to profit from the anticipated shortage. A camper from the larger grey tent confirmed on a Reddit thread, "Hello everyone, I’m the guy that you guys are talking about in the second tent. And yes, we are buying it for our own use, no trades and no sells. We just don’t want to pay for that extra $ for a gaming card and yes we do have some times on our hands because we run a business. Good luck to everyone who are trying to get one.” They further added that the atmosphere among the campers was "very nice and respectful." As of now, around 24 people in 10 tents are waiting at the Tustin location, according to the Discord channel.

In preparation for the launch, Micro Center shared its strategy for distributing the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 in a YouTube video, advising against camping due to the cold January weather. “We do discourage camping at our locations for the 5090 and 5080," the company stated.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Photos

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Camping for new GPUs at Micro Center is not a new phenomenon, as documented by YouTuber Austin Evans during the RTX 3070 launch at the same Tustin location in 2020. Micro Center's approach to managing the high demand involves a first-come-first-serve voucher system, with no choice in GPU models for those in line. Customers are limited to purchasing one card each, and despite discouraging camping, Micro Center advises arriving early to secure a GPU.