The excitement surrounding NVIDIA’s next-gen RTX 5090 GPU has turned to outrage after a major PC builder revealed jaw-dropping distributor quotes exceeding $3,000 for a single graphics card—a price tag that’s left the gaming community and industry insiders reeling.
PowerGPU, a custom gaming PC manufacturer known for its high-end rigs, publicly slammed the alleged price gouging in a now-viral social media post, calling the distributor’s offer “gross” and “exploitative.” The company warned that such pricing could alienate gamers already struggling with soaring costs. “This isn’t just a GPU—it’s a down payment on a car,” the tweet read.
A Market in Flames
The RTX 5090, NVIDIA’s flagship GPU, promises groundbreaking performance with a rumored 575W power limit, as detailed in a recent report. But that raw power comes at a literal cost: early distributor quotes suggest prices could double the $1,599 launch price of its predecessor, the RTX 4090. For context, check out this video analysis breaking down the tech specs and market hype.

Image source: Unsplash
Industry watchers blame scalpers, supply chain bottlenecks, and NVIDIA’s tiered pricing strategy for the sticker shock. “Distributors are banking on FOMO,” said one anonymous source. “They know enthusiasts will pay anything to get their hands on this first.”
AMD Looms as a Savior?
As NVIDIA faces backlash, AMD is seizing the moment. Leaks about its RDNA 4-based RX 9070 XT, teased in a GSM Go Tech article, suggest a competitively priced alternative with flagship performance. If AMD undercuts NVIDIA’s pricing, it could trigger a price war—something budget-conscious gamers are desperately hoping for.
The Ripple Effect
For PC builders like PowerGPU, the inflated GPU costs threaten their entire business model. “We want to build systems people can afford,” a company rep said. “At $3,000 just for the GPU, we’re priced out of our own market.” Consumers, meanwhile, face grim choices: empty their wallets, settle for last-gen hardware (still available on Amazon), or quit PC gaming altogether.
The Bottom Line
The RTX 5090’s pricing controversy highlights a broader crisis in the tech industry, where innovation risks being overshadowed by greed. As one Reddit user put it, “This isn’t progress—it’s robbery.” Whether NVIDIA course-corrects or AMD steals the spotlight, one thing’s clear: gamers are watching, and they’re not happy.
Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.