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

Want an Nvidia RTX 5090? Better pitch a tent as shops already have people camping outside — despite retailers pleading with hopefuls not to.

www.ign.com

The launch of a new GPU generation is upon us. On January 30, Nvidia is expected to release the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080. In our RTX 5090 review, we called it "the fastest graphics card on the consumer market," and it seems like the hype for a new generation of graphics cards is reaching a fever pitch.

The $2,000 RTX 5090 and the $1,000 RTX 5080 are both higher-end graphics cards with higher-end prices, but that's seemingly not stopping extreme interest. However, stock is rumored to be incredibly tight for both cards, with one retailer in the UK claiming they only have “single digit” stock for the RTX 5090, in particular.

Now, hopeful punters have started camping outside Micro Center’s Tustin location in California, days ahead of the launch. Images of tents outside the store have appeared on Reddit and the Unofficial Micro Center Discord channel, sparking speculation that those waiting in-line could be scalpers hoping to make a quick buck off of a rumored low-stock launch of the new gaming GPUs.

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

Nvidia letting it “slip” there would be major shortages really creating FOMO

 

[Draugoth]

Just wait 1-2 months bruh

I also heard that they will have like 2 of each 5090 here.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

I plan to attack at night and get rid of some of the competition

 

[lh032]

scalpers

 

[Lucifers Beard]

They'll be disappointed when they find out stock levels are stupidly low. I thought this kind of stuff had stopped since online shopping became absolutely massive.

 

[Topher]

"speculation that those waiting in-line could be scalpers"

 

[ReBurn]

How long until someone steals those shoes?

 

[Tajaz2426]

I’m not a moron, so I wouldn’t wait for anything to be released and wait inline for it. I don’t care enough about things or companies to do such a thing. However, if these folks are excited and hanging and laughing and just overall enjoying themselves, go for it.

When I was growing up people camped for a week and a half for tickets to see Garth Brooks in concert in ‘95.

You’ll always have some folks that want a piece of something exciting, have at it.

 

[FMX]

Bunch of losers!! They should be home with their girlfriends making love!!

 

[Topher]

I plan to attack at night and get rid of some of the competition

Look out for this guy.

 

[RoboFu]

stay back ladies, you don't want to mess with these stallions. That's like 3 Taylor swift concert tickets.

 

[CJ_75]

Tents are big enough to spend the night with your spouse. But it's more likely some obese person needed the extra space.

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

Look out for this guy.

As I come armed at all times, just fyi

 

[FIREKNIGHT2029]

Scalpers

 

[winjer]

Another case of people with more money than sense.

 

[adamsapple]

As I come armed at all times, just fyi

These are weapons of mass seduction.

 

[cormack12]

Scalpers eating good

 

[Hudo]

*Sir David Attenborough voice* And here we see the retard in his natural habitat...

 

[rm082e]

If scalpers freeze to death, I keep them in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[dave_d]

"speculation that those waiting in-line could be scalpers"

Of course a scalper could just show up at 9:00, wait for the person to come out and say "I'll give you $2500 for the 5090 right now". You know, basically what they used to do for concert tickets. (Admittedly a bit of a risk but it doesn't require camping out.)

 

[Trilobit]

Meanwhile cozy Switch enjoyers:

 

[captainpat]

The card's not going to be out for four days but then again stocks going to be low af.

 

[Topher]

Of course a scalper could just show up at 9:00, wait for the person to come out and say "I'll give you $2500 for the 5090 right now". You know, basically what they used to do for concert tickets. (Admittedly a bit of a risk but it doesn't require camping out.)

They could also just pay the first person in line for their spot. That always works....

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

As I come armed at all times, just fyi

Good luck

 

[hussar16]

Y tho. U can play all games on lower hardware.matve for resale they camp

 

[OverHeat]

Fuck yeah it’s cold outside but it’s going to be worth it

 

[cart00nero]

Stultorum infinitus est numerus

 

[darrylgorn]

One Darwin award for you, and one for you, and one for you...

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

Maybe DeepSeek will save us.

 

[Hyet]

So they both can spend days camping infront AND have so much disposable income they can spend 2+ grand on an unnecesary item nobody know they have.

How do this people earn a living? They can't all be trust funded kinds.

I don't get it.

 

[Draugoth]

So they both can spend days camping infront AND have so much disposable income they can spend 2+ grand on an unnecesary item nobody know they have.

How do this people earn a living? They can't all be trust funded kinds.

I don't get it.

No children, no family and remote work I imagine.

Y tho. U can play all games on lower hardware.matve for resale they camp

Not really. There will be news about some of these people fisting each other once they realize microcenter will only have 20 cards.

 

[asdasdasdbb]

So they both can spend days camping infront AND have so much disposable income they can spend 2+ grand on an unnecesary item nobody know they have.

How do this people earn a living? They can't all be trust funded kinds.

I don't get it.

Scalping is their job

 

[Ellery]

On a personal level I find this funny, because I think the RTX 50 series is a gigantic failure and a huge disappointment for me personally.

But usually hype and artificial scarcity means that this sells out. Especially in the USA where everyone is rich now and $2000 seem like nothing. When child care is $4000 a month, mortage $2600, car insurance and credit $1200 then an RTX 5090 is penny change.

Also looks like some people are right about scalpers. I personally wouldn't want to scalp a 5090 because I think it is heavily overpriced, but it is going to be interesting to see in the next few weeks. I might be completely wrong and the scalpers sell this thing for 4000-5000 $ but I doubt it.

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

There were several times during the great GPU shortage of 2020 when I walked into Microcenter mid-day and found 3080, 3080 Ti, and 3090 cards just sitting there for sale. I upgraded my GPU and my dad’s that summer just for the hell of it, because I could sell the old one for more than I paid for the new one, it was nuts. Went from 3080 -> 3080 Ti in mine and Radeon VII -> 3080 for my dad’s Flight Simulator computer.

Hoping I’ll get lucky again and find a 5090 there a few months after launch without much effort. I’m sure as hell not camping out for it.

 

[Senua]

 

[Magic Carpet]

The only ting camping out is the money sitting in the bank waiting to be spent.
I'm still researching 3d printers. (That also seem to be sold out)

 

[ReBurn]

Tents are big enough to spend the night with your spouse. But it's more likely some obese person needed the extra space.

 

[//DEVIL//]

I am pretty sure overheat, Draugoth, HeisenbergFX4 and tohper are the first 4 tents in that pic and adamsapple is the one who took the pic

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

Maybe these people are just trying to get eggs at the Kroger next door.

 

[iorek21]

The american way of life is so interesting from the point of view of a 3rd worlder. Seeing people would do such a thing for a PC part is crazy.

 

[cyberheater]

If you’re camping in the cold it’s all about the sleep system.

 

[Dr.D00p]

I suppose it saves on heating bills for the basement.

 

[OmegaSupreme]

Never have I ever camped out for anything game related. I got to the store at open a few times for various consoles but camping out always seemed a step to far.

 

[OverHeat]

I am pretty sure overheat, Draugoth, HeisenbergFX4 and tohper are the first 4 tents in that pic and adamsapple is the one who took the pic

 

[//DEVIL//]

The american way of life is so interesting from the point of view of a 3rd worlder. Seeing people would do such a thing for a PC part is crazy.

This is a world wide outside of third world countries because they don't get things day one and they don't have MSRP prices in third world countries

Japan and Europe / UK do the same things too . For games as well that you can buy any time day one.

 

[Rawbutt Jellybean]

The american way of life is so interesting from the point of view of a 3rd worlder. Seeing people would do such a thing for a PC part is crazy.

It's like a few people out of 400 million lol. Most people here think it's retarded assuming they're actually sleeping in their tents and didn't just set them up to hold their spot.

 

[YeulEmeralda]

Use a 5090 as space heater.

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

I am pretty sure overheat, Draugoth, HeisenbergFX4 and tohper are the first 4 tents in that pic and adamsapple is the one who took the pic

At mine and Topher age you know what would happen to our backs if we slept in a tent on the sidewalk for days?

 

[ReyBrujo]

Those aren't campers, those are homeless.