The launch of NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card has generated significant excitement among PC enthusiasts. Days before the January 30 release, people have started camping outside Micro Center’s Tustin location in California to secure this highly sought-after GPU. Images of tents outside the store have appeared on the Unofficial Micro Center Discord channel, sparking speculation that those waiting in line could be scalpers hoping to profit from the rumored low-stock launch.
However, one of the campers posted on Reddit, stating, “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.”
As of the time of writing, there are now up to 10 tents at the location, with around 24 people waiting for the GPU launch, according to Micro Center Unofficial Discord channel users.
Camping ahead of GPU launch
The campers have been described as “very nice and respectful” by one of the individuals waiting in line. Ahead of the launch, Micro Center detailed its strategy for the RTX 5090 and 5080, discouraging people from camping outside in the cold January weather. The company stated, “We do discourage camping at our locations for the 5090 and 5080.
Purchases will be confirmed to customers on a first-come-first-serve basis via a voucher system.
Those waiting in line will not have a choice in the specific model of GPU they will be able to purchase, and only one card can be purchased per customer. Despite discouraging camping outside their stores, Micro Center still suggests that people arrive early to avoid disappointment, as stock is rumored to be incredibly tight for the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080. The RTX 5090, priced at $2,000, has been called “the fastest graphics card on the consumer market,” while the RTX 5080 is priced at $1,000.
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