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

The highly anticipated Nvidia RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 GPUs are set to launch on January 30th, generating significant excitement and, predictably, limited stock. Our RTX 5090 review hailed it as the fastest consumer graphics card available, fueling the frenzy.

Despite their premium prices—$2,000 for the RTX 5090 and $1,000 for the RTX 5080—demand is exceptionally high. Reports suggest extremely low stock levels, with one UK retailer claiming single-digit RTX 5090 availability.

This scarcity has led to an unusual sight: people camping outside a Micro Center store in Tustin, California, days before the launch. Images circulating on Reddit and the Unofficial Micro Center Discord server show multiple tents, raising concerns about potential scalping.

However, at least one camper, interviewed on Reddit, insists they are purchasing for personal use and not resale. They describe a respectful atmosphere among those waiting. Estimates from the Discord channel suggest up to 10 tents and 24 individuals are currently present.

Micro Center, in a YouTube video, advised against camping, citing the inclement January weather. Their distribution strategy involves a first-come, first-served voucher system, with no choice of specific GPU model allowed. A one-card-per-customer limit is in place, and while discouraging camping, Micro Center still recommends early arrival to secure a purchase.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Photos

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This isn't unprecedented; YouTuber Austin Evans documented similar scenes at the same Tustin location during the RTX 3070 launch in 2020.