Nvidia RTX 5090 Campers Brave January Cold Despite Retailer Warnings

The excitement surrounding the launch of Nvidia's new GPU generation is palpable as we approach the release date of January 30. The highly anticipated RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 are set to hit the market, with our RTX 5090 review dubbing it "the fastest graphics card on the consumer market." These high-end cards, priced at $2,000 and $1,000 respectively, are generating extreme interest despite their premium price tags. However, rumors suggest that stock will be incredibly tight, with a UK retailer claiming they have only “single digit” stock for the RTX 5090.

In anticipation of the launch, enthusiasts have already started camping outside Micro Center’s Tustin location in California, days before the release. Images of tents outside the store have surfaced on Reddit and the Unofficial Micro Center Discord channel, fueling speculation that some of those waiting in line might be scalpers aiming to profit from the rumored low-stock situation.

Campers already appeared byu/Temporary-Director46 inMicrocenter

The images reveal several tents occupied by people eager for the new GPUs. According to reports, the larger grey tent houses four individuals, and one camper has taken to a Reddit thread to clarify their intentions: “Hello everyone, I’m the guy that you guys are talking about in the second tent. And yes, we are buying it for our own use, no trades and no sells. We just don’t want to pay for that extra $ for a gaming card and yes we do have some times on our hands because we run a business. Good luck to everyone who are trying to get one.” They further noted in another comment that everyone waiting at the Tustin Micro Center is “very nice and respectful.” As of now, there are approximately 10 tents and around 24 people waiting for the GPU launch on January 30, according to the Micro Center Unofficial Discord channel.

In preparation for the launch, Micro Center released a YouTube video detailing their strategy for the RTX 5090 and 5080, explicitly discouraging camping outside their stores during the cold January weather. “We do discourage camping at our locations for the 5090 and 5080," the company stated.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Photos

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Camping outside Micro Center for new graphics cards is not a new phenomenon, as YouTuber Austin Evans documented during the RTX 3070 launch at the same Tustin location in 2020. Micro Center will use a voucher system for purchases, ensuring they are on a first-come-first-serve basis. Those in line won’t have the option to choose their specific GPU model. Additionally, only one card can be purchased per customer. Despite discouraging camping, Micro Center advises customers to arrive early to secure their chance at these highly sought-after GPUs.