The whirlwind surrounding NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 5090 release has stirred quite a storm, primarily due to its extremely limited availability, and it’s leaving consumers feeling quite disgruntled.
NVIDIA’s latest RTX Blackwell GPU has sparked incredible demand, but the shortage is causing frustration among eager buyers.
As we’ve previously informed our readers, NVIDIA’s RTX Blackwell GPUs were expected to have notably low inventory levels. NVIDIA did warn about this before the initial batch hit the market, yet consumer excitement seems to have soared beyond expectations. Consequently, we’re witnessing a ‘stock chaos’ across retailers, with Japan being a particularly interesting case. Reports from users such as @sarasteam0151 indicate that Japanese buyers have been quite determined in their pursuit of the RTX 5090, leading to some disruptive incidents at launch events.
In response, some Japanese retailers opted to use a lottery system to distribute the GeForce RTX 5090. This strategy was intended to give everyone an equal shot at obtaining the coveted GPU and to prevent scalpers from hoarding stock. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned. Chaos ensued, with reports even mentioning frustrated customers climbing over a kindergarten fence next door to a retail location, showcasing their dissatisfaction with the situation.
Additionally, the scene isn’t much different in other markets, such as the United States. There, retailers like Micro Center are reportedly receiving only a handful of RTX 5090 units. The anticipation was evident as campers lined up days before the official release, making it next to impossible for an average buyer to get their hands on the GPU from the get-go. It’s a tough pill to swallow for the enthusiasts who had hoped to snag an RTX Blackwell on launch day.
The main reason behind the limited stock appears to be NVIDIA’s decision to incorporate GDDR7 memory modules, which has constrained production. Furthermore, AIB partners are dealing with thin margins on the RTX 50 series GPUs, leading them to price their stock above MSRP. This has only added fuel to the chaotic launch atmosphere. Our advice to consumers is to exercise patience as inventory levels stabilize, which might take a few weeks. By then, AMD’s RX 9070 series GPUs might also become available, providing more options for those eager to upgrade their gaming setups.
