NVIDIA’s launch of the GeForce RTX 5090 has certainly stirred up a whirlwind of excitement, but it’s quickly turning into a headache due to painfully low stock levels, leaving many potential buyers quite frustrated.
NVIDIA’s Top-Tier RTX Blackwell GPU Faces Massive Demand, Sparse Stock Leaves Gamers Disheartened
We’ve previously informed our readers that NVIDIA’s latest RTX Blackwell GPUs would hit the market with notably limited availability. The company had made this known even before the first set was released, yet the buzz around these GPUs reached fever pitch. This high anticipation has led to what can only be described as ‘inventory chaos’ among retailers. A particularly dramatic situation unfolded in Japan. According to a user going by @sarasteam0151, eager Japanese shoppers went to extreme measures hoping to snag an NVIDIA RTX 5090 during its launch, creating disorderly scenes.
Japanese retailers opted to implement a ‘lottery’ system for those early on the quest for a GeForce RTX 5090. This approach was intended to give everyone a fair shake and ward off scalpers. Unfortunately, this plan didn’t quite work out. Reports indicate that chaos ensued with the crowd of early customers, some expressing their frustration by climbing over a nearby kindergarten’s fence.
But the chaos wasn’t confined to Japan. It appears that the situation in U.S. stores, such as MicroCenter, is no less dire, with reports of single-digit allocations of the coveted RTX 5090. Prior to the launch, dedicated fans were camping out at various retail locations, making it virtually impossible for the average consumer to get their hands on the new GPUs on release day. While it’s disheartening for fans hoping to experience the RTX Blackwell the moment it dropped, that’s the current reality.
For those wondering why this scarcity prevails, the integration of GDDR7 memory modules in the RTX 5090 seems to be a major factor. Additionally, since AIB partners are seeing narrow profit margins with the RTX 50 series GPUs, they’re looking to sell at prices above the suggested MSRP, contributing to the current market chaos. Right now, patience is key. We advise consumers to hold off until stock levels normalize, which could take a few weeks. By then, AMD’s RX 9070 series GPUs might also have entered the scene, providing more options for eager gamers.
