It’s happening again: before you can even finish debating whether you want to eat this month or finally upgrade your GPU, Nvidia’s execs are gently massaging our expectations—and our wallets—by warning that the brand-new GeForce RTX 5080 and 5090 are primed to sell out the moment they hit shelves.
Let’s face it—Nvidia practically invented FOMO for PC gamers. This time around, Tim Adams, Nvidia’s global head of the GeForce community, hit the forums to pre-emptively announce: “We expect significant demand for the GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 and believe stock-outs may happen.” Translation: prepare your auto-refresh macros and sleeping bags, because securing one of these behemoths may require spiritual devotion on par with a pilgrimage to the local Micro Center.
Arguably the biggest shock isn’t the fact that these cards might sell out (because obviously), but that Nvidia is pricing the 5090 at a cool $1,999, with the 5080 coming in at $999. Sure, Nvidia claims these stickers are “lower than some expected” (which is like saying being kicked with a tennis shoe is better than a steel-toed boot), but let’s not kid ourselves—these cards are far from budget-friendly. At these prices, you might need to explain your GPU purchase to your financial advisor before your spouse.
So, while normal humans weigh the cost-benefit of slightly shinier shadows, enterprise AI labs are preparing to hoover up the fastest GPUs with the money-is-no-object gusto of an arms race. Gamers, meet your new nemesis: the Fortune 500 IT department.
May your refresh rate be high, your checkout cart be faster than your reflexes, and your financial regrets minimal. The next GPU scramble has begun!
Source: PCWorld Nvidia begins warning that GeForce 5080, 5090 may sell out
The “Sold Out” Dance: Nvidia’s Favorite Tradition
Let’s face it—Nvidia practically invented FOMO for PC gamers. This time around, Tim Adams, Nvidia’s global head of the GeForce community, hit the forums to pre-emptively announce: “We expect significant demand for the GeForce RTX 5090 and 5080 and believe stock-outs may happen.” Translation: prepare your auto-refresh macros and sleeping bags, because securing one of these behemoths may require spiritual devotion on par with a pilgrimage to the local Micro Center.Pricing Shock Therapy
Arguably the biggest shock isn’t the fact that these cards might sell out (because obviously), but that Nvidia is pricing the 5090 at a cool $1,999, with the 5080 coming in at $999. Sure, Nvidia claims these stickers are “lower than some expected” (which is like saying being kicked with a tennis shoe is better than a steel-toed boot), but let’s not kid ourselves—these cards are far from budget-friendly. At these prices, you might need to explain your GPU purchase to your financial advisor before your spouse.
AI’s Hungry Hands Are Coming for Your GPUs
Now, why would these flagship cards, with prices that could fund a very fancy vacation, sell out before their more “affordable” siblings like the 5070? Nvidia’s forum musings don’t spell it out, but the writing is on the silicon: AI has entered the chat. The first reviews of the RTX 5090 lead with AI benchmarks, brushing old-school gaming performance aside. Corporate buyers with bottomless R&D budgets are thirsty for anything that can feed their inferencing clusters and training models—and they don’t have to worry about rent or ramen.So, while normal humans weigh the cost-benefit of slightly shinier shadows, enterprise AI labs are preparing to hoover up the fastest GPUs with the money-is-no-object gusto of an arms race. Gamers, meet your new nemesis: the Fortune 500 IT department.
What’s a Gamer to Do?
Nvidia’s advice, unspoken but clear: be ready to hit refresh like it’s your ultimate boss battle. Whether you’re stalking online retailers or camping outside brick-and-mortar stores, you’ll need persistence (and possibly a sleeping bag) if you want to snag a 5090. For many of us, this isn’t our first rodeo. Just know that you’re not just up against scalpers this time—you’re picking a fight with AI researchers, cloud providers, and every crypto miner who’s got regrets about switching to Helium Hotspots last year.The Bitter-Sweet Cycle
In summary, Nvidia’s vast marketing engine is already lubricating the gears of anticipation and warning us of impending shortages—again. If you’re a gamer, you may be fighting above your weight class for the next big leap in pixel-pushing power. If you’re a corporate AI buyer, enjoy your bulk ordering privileges, and please save a GPU or two for the rest of us. And if you’re Nvidia, congratulations: your “stock out” warning may be the most predictable product launch plot twist of 2024, but boy, it’s working.May your refresh rate be high, your checkout cart be faster than your reflexes, and your financial regrets minimal. The next GPU scramble has begun!
Source: PCWorld Nvidia begins warning that GeForce 5080, 5090 may sell out
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