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

The excitement surrounding the launch of Nvidia's new GPU generation is palpable, with the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 set to hit the market on January 30. In our RTX 5090 review, we hailed it as "the fastest graphics card on the consumer market," fueling the already intense anticipation for these high-end graphics cards. Priced at $2,000 for the RTX 5090 and $1,000 for the RTX 5080, these GPUs come with a hefty price tag, yet the demand remains sky-high. Rumors suggest that stock will be extremely limited, with a UK retailer reportedly holding only "single digit" stock for the RTX 5090.

The fervor has led eager buyers to camp outside Micro Center’s Tustin location in California, days before the launch. Photos circulating on Reddit and the Unofficial Micro Center Discord channel show tents pitched outside the store, raising concerns that some may be scalpers looking to capitalize on the low stock. One camper, identified in a thread on Reddit, clarified their intentions: “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 noted that the atmosphere among those waiting is "very nice and respectful." As of now, there are approximately 10 tents and 24 people waiting at the Tustin location, according to the Micro Center Unofficial Discord channel.

In preparation for the launch, Micro Center has outlined its strategy in a YouTube video, explicitly discouraging camping outside due to the cold January weather. "We do discourage camping at our locations for the 5090 and 5080," the company stated. Despite this, the retailer will implement a first-come-first-serve voucher system, ensuring that only one card can be purchased per customer. While camping is not recommended, Micro Center advises arriving early to secure a chance at purchasing these sought-after GPUs.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Photos

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Camping for new graphics cards at Micro Center is not a new phenomenon, as seen during the RTX 3070 launch in 2020, documented by YouTuber Austin Evans at the same Tustin location. As the launch of the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 approaches, the anticipation and preparations continue to escalate among gaming enthusiasts.