Nvidia RTX 5090 eBay Price Hits $9,000 Amid User Protests Using Framed Photos to Outsmart Bots

The much-anticipated RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUs from Nvidia have finally hit the market, creating a frenzy among tech enthusiasts and professionals alike. These high-powered, high-priced graphics cards have become a hot commodity, quickly selling out at retail channels and leaving many potential buyers disappointed.

Due to the overwhelming demand and limited supply, both GPUs, particularly the RTX 5090, are being heavily scalped on resale platforms like eBay. Shortly after their release, RTX 5090s were snatched up for over $6,000, and prices have since soared to a staggering peak of $9,000—a 350% markup from the GPU’s original MSRP of $1,999.

So, why are people willing to pay such exorbitant prices for these GPUs? The RTX 5090 isn't just a powerhouse for gaming; it's also highly sought after for AI workloads. Many startups and businesses in the AI sector are eager to acquire this chip to run models locally. Since Nvidia’s Datacenter GPUs are often out of reach for many, the RTX 5090 becomes an attractive, albeit costly, alternative.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Photos

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However, the gaming community isn't taking this supply shortage and scalping lying down. eBay is now flooded with deceptive listings designed to trick buyers into purchasing an *image* of the RTX 5090, rather than the actual card itself.

One such listing candidly states: "Bots and scalpers welcome, do not buy if you are a human, you will be getting a framed photo of the 5090, you will not receive the 5090. The photo dimensions are 8 inches by 8 inches, I got the frame from Target. DO NOT BUY IF YOU’RE A HUMAN."

Another sold listing for $2,457 reads: "Geforce RTX 5090 (read description) Picture Only - Not the Actual Item," with a description that clearly states no refunds will be given for the image, which is not the RTX 5090 itself.

The core issue stems from the lack of competition in the high-end consumer GPU market. With AMD’s RX 9070 series unlikely to match Nvidia's performance, and Intel trailing behind, Nvidia holds a dominant position. The combination of card shortages and soaring prices paints a bleak outlook for high-end PC builders and enthusiasts.