A year earlier, criticism targeted MSI for inflating RTX 50-series graphics card costs to excessive amounts between $819 and $2,400 at the upper limit. Recently, Newegg began listing an Asus ROG Matrix Platinum GeForce RTX 5090 at a price of $7,499.
What stands out most is that this represents a unique listing from a third-party supplier, particularly since typical Nvidia RTX 5090 units on Newegg generally retail for approximately $4,000. Conditions on Amazon remain comparable, with average listings around $3,800 based on recent assessments.
The escalation raises questions about the industry's trajectory. Last year's uproar over MSI's $2,400 RTX 5090 models, which exceeded the recommended retail price by $400, now seems mild amid the ongoing rapid increases that echo the volatility of speculative digital currencies.
According to PCPartPicker data, the RTX 5090 averaged $2,000 during January 2025, aligning with the cost of a premium laptop, yet it has since climbed to $4,000, a shift that the market has gradually normalized.
On a brighter note, RTX 5080 options remain at roughly $1,500, and RTX 5070 models hover near $650, although the base versions provide only 12GB of memory. Variants with 16GB typically demand about $1,100, a gap that holds steady across retailers. Meanwhile, AMD's Radeon lineup presents more affordable alternatives, though it struggles with consumer interest.
Beyond burdening everyday purchasers, these trends upend established benchmarks for system value. An overpriced graphics component can significantly influence choices regarding desktop or laptop acquisitions, as supply constraints and cost surges continue to disrupt multiple sectors.
Consequently, industry observers advised pursuing bundled deals during the prior Black Friday sales to counter the rises. Vendors tend to offset deficits on multi-part packages, particularly those incorporating cost-free additions such as software entitlements.
Another approach involves selecting ready-made computers, which function as curated component sets from a practical standpoint. Settling for a mid-tier graphics solution like the RTX 5060 can yield cost-effective builds, such as Newegg's Core i7 14700F configuration featuring 32GB DDR5 and an RTX 5060 for $1,219.
In time, even these assembled systems may see substantial price jumps. Projections of prolonged RAM scarcity driven by artificial intelligence needs, potentially spanning years, now appear far from exaggerated.
Even so, it's staggering to note that the listed ROG RTX 5090's price equates to that of a pre-owned automobile. With the date being March 2026, further declines in affordability seem inevitable.
Mark has been a contributor to PCWorld for the past ten years, leveraging three decades of expertise in technology reporting. He has produced more than 3,500 features for PCWorld, focusing on areas such as computer processors, input devices, and the Windows operating system. His contributions have graced outlets like PC Magazine, Byte, eWEEK, Popular Science, and Electronic Buyers' News, where he received a Jesse H. Neal Award for timely reporting. Recently, he relinquished a sizable assortment of Thunderbolt docking stations and USB-C adapters owing to limited office storage.