The highly anticipated launch of Nvidia’s RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 graphics cards last week quickly turned into a frustrating hunt for scarce inventory. Both GPUs are currently sold out at major retailers, leaving prospective buyers wondering when they’ll have a chance to purchase one. According to Overclockers, a prominent UK retailer, the wait could be substantial.
Overclockers, a leading PC hardware retailer in the UK, recently issued a stock update regarding the RTX 5090 and 5080. Both cards are listed as sold out, and the retailer has suspended preorders. The overwhelming demand created a backlog of preorders, leaving those customers with the option to either wait or request a refund. Overclockers UK stated, “We have no plans to take pre-orders for any 50 Series cards until we have greater clarity on availability and have fulfilled the pre-orders we have taken.”
The most concerning aspect is the estimated restock timeframe. Overclockers projects a three to 16-week lead time for the RTX 5090 and a two to six-week lead time for the RTX 5080. While the shorter estimates are manageable, the longer projections suggest a potential wait until late May for the flagship RTX 5090, a significant delay considering its January launch.
The situation in the US mirrors the UK’s scarcity. Retailers like Amazon and Newegg are out of stock, with Newegg vaguely promising to “replenish stocks as soon as possible.” The only readily available RTX 5090s seem to be on eBay, but caution is advised due to rampant scams involving the sale of images of the GPU for exorbitant prices. Legitimate listings for the RTX 5090 are reaching upwards of $7,000. The RTX 50-series launch even caused disruption in Japan, including a damaged kindergarten sign.
Despite pre-launch rumors of limited availability, the stark reality of high demand and low stock is now hitting consumers. The widespread shortages leave many wondering where to buy an RTX 5090 or 5080. Currently, options are extremely limited unless one is willing to pay significantly inflated prices from third-party sellers, a course of action generally not recommended. For now, patience seems to be the only viable option.
