Nvidia RTX 5090 Campers Brave January Cold Despite Retailer Warnings

The excitement is palpable as Nvidia gears up to launch its latest GPU generation, 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 anticipation for these new high-end graphics cards. Priced at $2,000 for the RTX 5090 and $1,000 for the RTX 5080, these cards command a premium, yet the demand remains sky-high. However, whispers of limited stock have intensified the frenzy, with a UK retailer claiming to have only "single digit" units of the RTX 5090 available.

The anticipation has led to eager fans camping outside Micro Center's Tustin location in California days before the launch. Photos circulating on Reddit and the Unofficial Micro Center Discord channel showcase tents and campers, sparking speculation about whether these early birds are genuine enthusiasts or potential scalpers looking to capitalize on the rumored low stock. One camper took to a Reddit thread to clarify their intentions, stating, "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 that extra $ for a gaming card and yes we do have some time on our hands because we run a business. Good luck to everyone who are trying to get one."

They further emphasized that the atmosphere among the campers is "very nice and respectful." Reports from the Micro Center Unofficial Discord channel indicate that the number of tents has grown to 10, with approximately 24 people waiting to snag the new GPUs on launch day.

In preparation for the launch, Micro Center released a YouTube video outlining their strategy for the RTX 5090 and 5080, explicitly discouraging camping outside their stores in the chilly January weather. "We do discourage camping at our locations for the 5090 and 5080," the company stated.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Photos

5 Images

Camping outside for new graphics cards at Micro Center is not a new phenomenon, as evidenced by YouTuber Austin Evans, who documented a similar scene at the Tustin location during the RTX 3070 launch in 2020.

Micro Center will use a voucher system to confirm purchases on a first-come-first-serve basis. Those in line won't have the option to choose their specific GPU model. Additionally, customers are limited to purchasing just one card each. Despite discouraging camping, Micro Center advises arriving early to secure a chance at these highly sought-after GPUs.