The highly awaited launch of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is getting off to a very rocky start. Reports coming in from around the world suggest what can only be termed "release chaos," mainly driven by extremely low stock levels. It seems the dream of easily getting this top-of-the-line GPU on day one is fast becoming a scramble.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Graphics Card
Demand Surges, Stock Vanishes: A Recipe for Disappointment
We've been hearing whispers of RTX 50 series stock for a while, but the ground reality appears to be far beyond even those conservative predictions. It seems the actual fervor to get one's hands on the RTX 5090 by consumers has slammed head-on with an utterly scant supply, pitting widespread frustration.
The situation in Japan is a sure example. There, while a lottery system aimed at creating equanimity or at least ensuring a fairer play and attempting to keep scalp sellers at bay was in effect, according to @sarasteam0151, launch-day scenes were nowhere near orderly. Frustration boiled over, with a few customers forced into desperate measures that underlined the intense need and subsequent disappointments surrounding RTX 5090 availability.
Global Retailers Feeling the Pinch
This isn't just a problem confined to the shores of Japan. Across the Pacific, word from the US also paints a similarly grim picture. Major retailers such as MicroCenter are reportedly getting RTX 5090 allocations in single digits. If reports of customers camping outside days in advance in anticipation of such launches are anything to go by, the prospects for the average buyer to secure a card at launch are slim. That many will be able to get an MSRP RTX 5090 on launch day seems increasingly like a piped dream.
Why the Shortage? GDDR7 and Market Dynamics
Driving this shortage are a few factors. One is that NVIDIA is using industry-leading GDDR7 memory on the RTX 5090. This very often seems to bring production slowdowns in the early go-round of using new memory. There are also industry whispers that the AIB partners have tighter margins with the RTX 50 series. These may also factor into why these board partners do not have any inclination to really push volume drives, especially at MSRP. This may play a role in the higher price and lower stocks we're seeing.
Weathering the Tempest: Some Words of Advice
To the gamer eager for the RTX 5090, this must come as very disheartening news. But for most consumers, patience is likely the best course of action at this point. It's best to wait until inventory levels stabilize. This initial "release chaos" usually doesn't last long. Supply should gradually improve over the coming weeks. By that time, we may also see AMD's response with their RX 9070 series GPUs hitting the market, offering alternative options and potentially easing overall demand. For the time being, it would probably be better to wait.
"Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet." A saying that most likely can apply to those who are holding on for the RTX 5090.
