Report Suggests "Extreme" Stock Limits for GeForce RTX 5090 & 5080 GPUs in Germany

[T0@st]

A moderator on the PC Games Hardware (PCGH.de) discussion board had disclosed worrying details regarding stock limitations—presumably affecting the upcoming GeForce RTX 50 series launch in Germany. In turn, this disclosure was picked up by PCGH's new department. The predicted circumstances will—reportedly—make matters most difficult for customers looking to acquire higher-end "Blackwell" GPUs. The forum moderator gathered damning evidence from his network of contacts: "I was able to learn from well-informed dealer circles, the available contingent of graphics cards will be extremely limited! This applies in particular to the GeForce RTX 5090. Accordingly, NVIDIA determines where and who exactly will offer graphics cards at market launch. B2B dealers and the entire local wholesale trade, which primarily also works with business customers, will most likely come away empty-handed."

A bit of humor was sprinkled in with this informative post—the moderator joked about customers resorting to "cheerful" repetitive pressings of their F5 keys. They posit that the online buying experience for flagship Blackwell GPUs will be tiring and frustrating: "...so anyone who wants to get a GeForce RTX 5090 or GeForce RTX 5080 at market launch will have to queue digitally at the end customer dealers together with waiting (private) customers. Scalpers and bots will probably also get involved here. The quantities that can be purchased are likely to be limited to a maximum of one unit." Several stores are listed as being prime sources of stock (see below)—they reckon that the likes of Amazon will be not be receiving initial batches. "Second, third, or even fourth" waves of stock are anticipated, with some retailers set to act as resellers—inevitably opening the door to predicted price gouging. It is not clear whether these alleged restrictions will come into effect in markets beyond German borders—additionally, the VideoCardz insider network has not discovered any behind-the-scenes information regarding Team Green's launch period supply strategy.




Here is Pokerclock's recommended list of German retailer outlets:

• Mindfactory
• Alternate (B2C, which excludes wave)
• Caseking (B2C—orders only via the online shop as a reseller)
• Cyberport/Computeruniverse
• NBB
• Pro Shop

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[Metroid]

Scalpers reading this news -->
People reading this news -->

 

[Why_Me]

If the Germans are getting hosed this mean we're all getting hosed =/

 

[Chrispy_]

So something like 95%+ of all 4090 cards were business purchases for AI/LLM, and that's why a $1599 MSRP was still selling for $2300 throughout the product lifecycle, never stayed in stock for long, and held their near 50% commodity premium for their entire shelf-life

People who thought superior AI/LLM cards like the 5080 and 5090 were going to be "readily available" for gamers at the MSRP were either completely ignorant, utterly stupid, or both simultaneously.

The real worry is that the 5070 and 5070Ti are also going to be more valuable for AI/LLM than gaming. Perhaps this is where the inadequate VRAM approach Nvidia is using might actually be and advantage for gamers for all the wrong reasons.

Insufficent VRAM is offputting for gamers, but not as offputting as it is for the AI/LLM market.

 

[Nostras]

No shit, writing was on the wall that the vast majority of stock was going to the USA because of slated (/supposed?) import tariffs.

 

[eidairaman1]

Gotta keep those prices artifically inflated...

 

[NoneRain]

You can link high prices to scarcity if you know enough people are willing to buy. This creates urgency, prompting undecided buyers to act before it's too late. It also increases the likelihood of a complete sellout, making the product even more desirable.
The higher the demand, the less high prices seem excessive.
NVIDIA is the player, we are the game.

 

[ZoneDymo]

could also, ya know....not buy it?

 

[N/A]

If the Germans are getting hosed this mean we're all getting hosed =/

Breaking news, all cards were shipped to the US with priority before the new tariffs.

 

[Vya Domus]

No shit, writing was on the wall that the vast majority of stock was going to the USA because of slated (/supposed?) import tariffs.

These things are never in great stock in EU at launch.

 

[HisDivineOrder]

So something like 95%+ of all 4090 cards were business purchases for AI/LLM, and that's why a $1599 MSRP was still selling for $2300 throughout the product lifecycle, never stayed in stock for long, and held their near 50% commodity premium for their entire shelf-life

People who thought superior AI/LLM cards like the 5080 and 5090 were going to be "readily available" for gamers at the MSRP were either completely ignorant, utterly stupid, or both simultaneously.

The real worry is that the 5070 and 5070Ti are also going to be more valuable for AI/LLM than gaming. Perhaps this is where the inadequate VRAM approach Nvidia is using might actually be and advantage for gamers for all the wrong reasons.

Insufficent VRAM is offputting for gamers, but not as offputting as it is for the AI/LLM market.

Nvidia could help make the cards less desirable to the AI/LLM market by removing all the AI features and focus solely on raster. That's a sacrifice I'd be willing to make. More raster, less AI. Like you said.

For gamers.

 

[eidairaman1]

Nvidia could help make the cards less desirable to the AI/LLM market by removing all the AI features and focus solely on raster. That's a sacrifice I'd be willing to make. More raster, less AI. Like you said.

For gamers.

They don't care, ai is the cashcow now, gamers not so much

 

[Zach_01]

Nvidia could help make the cards less desirable to the AI/LLM market by removing all the AI features and focus solely on raster. That's a sacrifice I'd be willing to make. More raster, less AI. Like you said.

For gamers.

Again it’s false thinking.
Not a chance to go back because this was the goal from the beginning.
Just because they say they care about gamers doesn’t mean they do. Or at least it’s not their priority.
This is industry, business and profits.

They sell GPU systems for 30-40k per piece with the very same architecture.

Also there is a limited amount of (raster) shaders you can pack on a given area.
And fab nodes are progressing slowly and slowly on every iteration while demand for traditional computing is growing faster. AI/ML stuff is pretty much a one way street at this point. Maybe a manufactured street on some level, but still.

Our current non AI tech is reaching to its limits.
A breakthrough on “electronics” will be needed soon.

 

[kondamin]

could also, ya know....not buy it?

That’s fine if you are just a gamer that can make do with their previous graphics card.
if you need a new machine because your previous one no longer works and you can’t get anything thats an other problem.

 

[Gmr_Chick]

That’s fine if you are just a gamer that can make do with their previous graphics card.
if you need a new machine because your previous one no longer works and you can’t get anything thats an other problem.

Second hand market, my friend!

 

[Visible Noise]

ITT - people that don’t want Nvidia graphics cards complain about the supposed unavailability of Nvidia graphics cards.

You can’t make up comedy this good!

 

[Bwaze]

So something like 95%+ of all 4090 cards were business purchases for AI/LLM, and that's why a $1599 MSRP was still selling for $2300 throughout the product lifecycle, never stayed in stock for long, and held their near 50% commodity premium for their entire shelf-life

People who thought superior AI/LLM cards like the 5080 and 5090 were going to be "readily available" for gamers at the MSRP were either completely ignorant, utterly stupid, or both simultaneously.

I’ve read that opinion many times, and every time I checked price checking sites here in EU there was a very wide availability of almost all models, all the time - just at inflated prices. Even when people were talking about how these cards were bought in huge numbers by businesses for AI / LLM…

I still think this is not true. Even a relatively small demand increase at the start of cryptomining crazes coincided with cards just not being available in retail, because they were bought outside of regular supply channels - businesses have many options to do that.

I think what we have seen is just Nvidia not giving any care on how many RTX graphics cards they even sell - they have their cash cows elsewhere with dedicated server equipment. By raising the price they could limit the number of runs for the gaming GPU processors and run the more profitable lines of products.

The same will happen with RTX 50x0 line. Every gaming card sold is a missed opportunity of not selling a 10x more expensive server part.

And the best part? Since Nvidia can internally channel their revenue, they can show a record Gaming revenue, and brag how they are good to gamers - and at the same time not selling anything.

 

[3valatzy]

And the best part? Since Nvidia can internally channel their revenue, they can show a record Gaming revenue, and brag how they are good to gamers - and at the same time not selling anything.

This is a criminal offense, cheating to the investors, the JHH could go in prison for this!

Regarding the poor stock - no one will care, anyways, if the rumours about single-digit performance increase turns out as the truth.

 

[boidsonly]

I suspect AI startups made arrangements with NVIDIA long before this launch.

 

[Zach_01]

I suspect AI startups made arrangements with NVIDIA long before this launch.

Most likely they made arrangements with almost everybody regarding AI long ago.
You can’t be 2nd top company on the planet just by selling GPUs to gamers.

 

[cbns]

Europe should put 100% tariffs on all chips created using ASML machines sold in the US. And ban selling top AI chips created on these machines in the US.

 

[kondamin]

The same will happen with RTX 50x0 line. Every gaming card sold is a missed opportunity of not selling a 10x more expensive server part.

That's only true for the big silicon, those little cut down cores are nice fillers for the wafer that can't be filled with a big die

 

[Visible Noise]

That's only true for the big silicon, those little cut down cores are nice fillers for the wafer that can't be filled with a big die

That’s not how it works.

 

[kondamin]

it wouldnt be the first time Warren Buffet bought mega cash cows for pennies on the dollar
so my guess is Berkshire Hathaway which has over 300 billion in cash on hand.

So intel goes private but stays intel and the X86 license stays "safe"

 

[Visible Noise]

Europe should put 100% tariffs on all chips created using ASML machines sold in the US. And ban selling top AI chips created on these machines in the US.

That‘s a take, considering these chips are made in Taiwan.