"Nvidia RTX 5090 Campers Defy January Cold Despite Retailer Warnings"

The excitement for Nvidia's upcoming GPU launch is palpable as the tech community eagerly anticipates the release of the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 on January 30. Our RTX 5090 review hailed it as "the fastest graphics card on the consumer market," adding to the frenzy surrounding these high-end graphics cards. Priced at $2,000 for the RTX 5090 and $1,000 for the RTX 5080, these GPUs come with a premium tag that hasn't deterred enthusiasts. However, rumors suggest that stock will be extremely limited, with a UK retailer reportedly holding only "single digit" stock for the RTX 5090.

In anticipation of the launch, eager fans have begun camping outside Micro Center’s Tustin location in California. Photos of tents and hopeful buyers have surfaced on platforms like Reddit and the Unofficial Micro Center Discord channel, raising concerns about scalpers trying to capitalize on the expected low stock. A Reddit post by user Temporary-Director46 shows the scene, with one camper stating, "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."

The atmosphere among the campers is reported to be friendly and respectful, with up to 10 tents and around 24 people currently waiting at the Tustin location, according to the Micro Center Unofficial Discord channel. In a YouTube video, Micro Center outlined its launch strategy for the RTX 5090 and 5080, explicitly discouraging camping outside their stores in 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 for new graphics cards at Micro Center is not a new phenomenon; YouTuber Austin Evans captured the scene during the RTX 3070 launch at the same Tustin location back in 2020. Micro Center will use a first-come-first-serve voucher system to confirm purchases, with no choice in the specific model of GPU available to buyers. Each customer is limited to purchasing just one card, and despite discouraging camping, Micro Center advises arriving early to avoid disappointment.