The arrival of a new GPU generation is finally here. On January 30, Nvidia officially launched the highly anticipated RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 graphics cards. In our [RTX 5090 review], we described it as “the fastest consumer-grade graphics card on the market,” and excitement surrounding this next-gen hardware has reached an all-time high.
Priced at $2,000 for the RTX 5090 and $1,000 for the RTX 5080, both cards represent the upper echelon of gaming performance—and pricing. Despite their premium cost, demand remains sky-high. Reports suggest that initial stock levels are extremely limited, especially for the flagship RTX 5090. One UK retailer even stated they only received “single-digit” units of the top-tier model.
This scarcity has led to early action from eager buyers. Enthusiasts have already begun camping outside Micro Center’s Tustin, California location days before launch. Photos shared on [Reddit] and the [Unofficial Micro Center Discord channel] show multiple tents set up near the store entrance, raising speculation about whether these campers are genuine buyers or potential scalpers hoping to profit from the shortage.
Campers already appeared
byu/Temporary-Director46 in Microcenter
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The images reveal several tents occupied by individuals waiting for the release. According to one commenter—who claims to be inside the second tent—his group isn’t looking to resell: “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 time on our hands because we run a business. Good luck to everyone who's trying to get one.”
In another message, he added that the atmosphere among those waiting is positive, with everyone being “very nice and respectful.” As of now, there are reportedly up to 10 tents at the location, housing around 24 people total, according to members of the Unofficial Micro Center Discord server.
Anticipating the rush, Micro Center released a YouTube video outlining its GPU launch strategy and urging fans not to sleep outside in the cold. “We do discourage camping at our locations for the 5090 and 5080,” the company emphasized.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Product Images
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Camping out for a graphics card is nothing new at Micro Center. Back in 2020, tech influencer Austin Evans filmed similar scenes at the same Tustin branch during the RTX 3070 launch.
For purchase day, Micro Center confirmed a first-come, first-served approach using a voucher system. Buyers in line won’t be able to choose between specific GPU models—what’s available is what you get.
Each customer will be allowed to purchase only one card. While the company continues to advise against overnight camping, it still recommends arriving early to improve your chances of securing a unit.
