Nvidia RTX 5090 Resold on eBay for Astonishing $9,000

The highly anticipated RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUs have launched, creating a frenzy in the market. High demand and limited supply have resulted in immediate sellouts across most retail channels, leaving many potential buyers disappointed.

Consequently, both GPUs, particularly the RTX 5090, are experiencing significant price gouging on secondary marketplaces like eBay. Shortly after release, RTX 5090s were fetching over $6,000, a figure that has since climbed to a shocking $9,000—a 350% markup from the MSRP of $1,999.

This exorbitant pricing is driven by the RTX 5090's suitability for both gaming and demanding AI workloads. Startups and businesses involved in AI are actively seeking these GPUs for local model processing, as Nvidia's datacenter-grade options are often inaccessible. The RTX 5090, despite its inflated resale price, becomes a viable alternative.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Images

5 ImagesThe gaming community's response to the scarcity and scalping practices is noteworthy. eBay is now flooded with fraudulent listings designed to deceive buyers. These listings offer a photograph of the RTX 5090 instead of the actual product.

One such listing explicitly 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 detentions [sic] is 8 inches by 8 inches, I got the frame from Target. DO NOT BUY IF YOU’RE A HUMAN.”

Another completed listing, sold for $2,457, clearly states: “Geforce RTX 5090 (read description) Picture Only - Not the Actual Item,” with a similar disclaimer regarding non-refundable image purchases.

The core problem stems from the lack of substantial competition in the high-end consumer GPU market. With AMD's RX 9070 series unlikely to challenge Nvidia's dominance and Intel trailing behind, Nvidia holds a near monopoly. The current shortage and exorbitant pricing paint a bleak outlook for high-end PC builders and enthusiasts.