Nvidia RTX 5000 Series Launch: Is the Hype Justified?

The RTX 5090 and RTX 5080: A Powerhouse Duo

Nvidia’s new lineup is nothing short of impressive on paper.
The RTX 5090, touted as the fastest graphics card on the consumer market, boasts an eye-watering spec sheet.
With 21,760 CUDA cores, 32GB of GDDR7 memory, and a 575W power draw, it’s clear this card is aimed at those who demand the absolute best.
The RTX 5080, while less beastly, is no slouch either, sporting 10,752 CUDA cores, 16GB of GDDR7 VRAM, and a more modest (but still significant) 360W power draw.

Both cards feature the next-generation of Nvidia’s DLSS technology, known as DLSS 4. This AI-powered tech allows for frame generation, going beyond just one additional frame as seen in DLSS 3.
With DLSS 4, these cards can generate *two or even three additional frames* for every one they render natively – a genuine leap forward.

But with great power comes a great price tag.
The RTX 5090 carries a hefty MSRP of $1,999, while the RTX 5080 is priced at $999.
And yet, despite these premium price points, demand has reached fever pitch.

Camping Out for GPUs: The Madness Begins

The real world impact of the hype is hard to ignore.
Images of makeshift campsites outside Micro Center’s Tustin location in California have surfaced, with hopeful buyers staking their claim days before the official launch.
Yes, you read that correctly: *people are camping out for graphics cards in the cold January weather.* Whether these are genuine enthusiasts or scalpers looking to profit from the expected low stock is unclear, but it paints a vivid picture of the demand.

One Reddit user, part of the “second tent” contingent, stated that they are buying the cards for their personal use, saying “We just don’t want to pay for that extra…
for a gaming card and yes we do have some time on our hands because we run a business”.
Their words, echoed by others in the line, suggest a community of dedicated individuals, not just scalpers.
Yet the fear of shortages and price gouging remains palpable.

Micro Center, while understanding the enthusiasm, has actively discouraged camping, but that has not dampened the spirits of those seeking the new nvidia geforce rtx 5090 and nvidia geforce rtx 5080.

Limited Stock: The Elephant in the Room

Rumors of incredibly tight stock have cast a shadow over this launch.
One retailer in the UK allegedly has single-digit inventory for the RTX 5090, a concerning statistic that reinforces the need for caution.
It seems that for many, securing a card on day one will be a real challenge.
The supply of cards is reportedly low, which will inevitably drive secondary market prices even higher.
And while retailers like Newegg are offering trade-in programs for older GPUs, this is no comfort to those who just want to get their hands on the latest card for the official retail price.

As one source bluntly put it, “the word on the street is that while demand will be high, the amount of cards on sale will be low.” This scarcity is not merely a logistical issue; it’s a major influence on the buying experience.

The Technical Marvel: A Deep Dive into the RTX 5090

Let’s set aside the stock issues for a moment and focus on the pure technological marvel that is the RTX 5090.
Independent tests have shown substantial performance gains over the RTX 4090, with a 22-23% average increase in game frame rates, without even relying on DLSS.

The 5090’s architectural advancements include AI-powered features that are pushing graphical fidelity to new heights.
This incorporates neural rendering, neural shaders and Neural Faces, using AI to create hyper-realistic graphics.
In particular RTX Mega Geometry uses AI to allow developers to stream in details in real time at 1 triangle per pixel, an unheard of level of detail.
This translates to more immersive and believable game worlds.
During a demo, a dragon rendered at 1 triangle per pixel was deemed ‘truly bonkers’.

One might wonder, does all this power mean more latency?
Thankfully, the answer is no.
Nvidia’s Reflex technology actively reduces latency, while DLSS 4 does not add any extra latency over DLSS 3 despite the additional frame generation.
The aim of Nvidia is, seemingly, to reach 4k resolution at 240FPS using their new tech.

The DLSS 4 Revolution: More Than Just Frame Rates

DLSS 4 marks a significant leap in AI upscaling technology.
The most significant update for gamers is the inclusion of ‘multi-frame generation’ – which can now create up to three additional frames.
For the uninitiated, this may sound like some marketing trick, but in practice it translates to significantly smoother gameplay in games with ray-tracing turned on.

The core of the improvements in DLSS4 comes from a complete shift from a convolutional neural network to a transformer model, similar to the technology used by ChatGPT.
This means DLSS is able to evaluate the importance of each pixel, resulting in smoother edges and less “ghosting” ( a well-known artifact when upscaling), and much higher frame rates.

As one tester noted after a Cyberpunk 2077 update ” moving from that convolutional neural network to the transformer model is making it smarter and more efficient in boosting frame rates!”

Beyond the 5090: The RTX 5080 and 5070 Series

While the RTX 5090 is stealing the spotlight, the nvidia rtx 5000 series also includes other compelling options.
The RTX 5080 offers a step down in raw power but remains a potent card for high-end gaming, particularly with DLSS 4.
For more budget-conscious gamers, the upcoming RTX 5070 and RTX 5070 Ti are poised to offer good performance at lower price points.
Nvidia is even touting the RTX 5070 as being comparable to the RTX 4090 *when DLSS 4 is enabled*.
It’s a bold claim, and only time will tell if it rings true.

However, as prices and stock issues for these new cards have made themselves known, there is an argument to be made that the 40 series cards might be an even better value.
As one source points out “Many of the links above currently direct you to the latest Nvidia GPUs, so if you have bad luck finding an RTX 50series card you might be better off with a previousgeneration card.” The vast majority of DLSS 4 features are coming to the older generation cards too.
So there’s potentially still life in the older series of Nvidia Cards.

The Road Ahead: Availability and Pricing

The nvidia geforce rtx 5090 review process has been thorough, but now the focus has shifted to the consumer – what happens next for the average buyer?
With a launch date of January 30th, availability will likely be a concern.
Several major retailers will be stocking the cards, including: Amazon, Adorama, Best Buy, B&H Photo, Newegg, and Nvidia itself.
Newegg is confirmed to be allowing online purchases at 9am ET / 6am PT on January 30th, and B&H Photo will be starting preorders at 12am on the 31st.
As for the UK, the release is tentatively scheduled for 2pm GMT on January 30th.

The good news is that there are both standalone GPUs and prebuilt PCs that include the 5090 and 5080 on sale on these sites.

However, there’s a significant downside to all of this – the price.
While the MSRPs of $1,999 and $999 for the RTX 5090 and 5080 respectively are already steep, custom GPUs from manufacturers like Asus, MSI, and Gigabyte are likely to cost even more.
Additionally, a report from reveals that Nvidia RTX 50series GPUs, particularly RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 graphics cards, will be even harder to get at Nvidias proposed pricing, as manufacturers try to recoup their own costs.

The risk of scalpers is another challenge, with pre-sale units showing up on eBay at astronomical prices, far exceeding Nvidia’s asking prices.
This means that prospective buyers will have to stay vigilant and only buy from a reputable retailer to avoid paying these high prices.

Is the Hype Justified?

So, is all the hype surrounding the Nvidia RTX 5000 series warranted?
Technically, yes.
The Nvidia RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 are technological marvels that push the boundaries of what’s possible in consumer graphics.
The performance gains are undeniable, particularly in 4K gaming, and the introduction of DLSS 4 adds another dimension to the graphics landscape.
It means it is genuinely possible to game with settings maxed out on high resolution screens and get a smooth experience, even in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth Wukong.

However, the combination of limited stock, high prices, and the risk of scalpers creates a frustrating situation for many.
For the average user upgrading from a 10, 20, or 30 series card, the uplifts are ‘mindblowing’, but at what cost?

For those looking to buy one of these cards, it will take patience, diligent searching, and possibly some luck.
Will the Nvidia RTX 5000 series live up to the hype in the long run?
Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the next generation of gaming graphics has arrived, and it’s here to stay.