Newegg, an online hardware retailer, has reported a tremendous surge in demand for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs, particularly the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090. Within just 20 minutes of becoming available, Newegg’s entire stock of these graphics cards was sold out, highlighting the immense popularity of the latest gaming hardware. According to Jim Tseng, Vice President of Product Management at Newegg, the response from the gaming and PC community has been “extraordinary,” reflecting an eager demand for cutting-edge technology.
Surging Customer Traffic and Increased Interest
The overwhelming demand for the RTX 50 Series GPUs caused a significant spike in traffic to Newegg’s website, with visits increasing by 8 to 10 times the usual levels. The GPUs dominated the site’s search results, accounting for nine of the top ten searches, and 18 out of the 25 most visited pages. This surge in activity demonstrates not only the popularity of the new GPU series but also the growing interest in high-performance components among PC enthusiasts and gamers.
Newegg has expressed its commitment to ensuring that future restocks of the RTX 50 Series will be available to customers who were unable to secure a unit during the initial rush. The company plans to continue collaborating with NVIDIA and its Add-In Board (AIB) partners to maintain the availability of these GPUs. Additionally, Newegg has introduced a GPU trade-in program to help make upgrading to the latest generation of video cards more affordable for customers, reinforcing its dedication to meeting consumer demand.
Consumer Frustration Amid Scarcity and Price Hikes
Despite Newegg’s efforts to meet demand, consumers have expressed frustration over the scarcity of the RTX 50 Series GPUs. Many have turned to resale platforms, where the GPUs are being listed at significantly inflated prices. For example, the RTX 5090 has been seen selling for over $6,000, a 200% increase over its original retail price. This price surge has raised concerns about the accessibility of the cards for average gamers and PC builders.
In response to the shortage, NVIDIA has acknowledged the high demand for the RTX 50 Series and assured customers that they are working to replenish stock. A company representative, Tim@Nvidia, posted on the company’s forums, confirming that both NVIDIA and its partners are continuously shipping more units to retail to address the stock-outs. However, supply chain challenges, including factors like the Chinese New Year, were cited as contributing to the current production limitations, which have affected the availability of the GPUs.