Graphics card prices have reached staggering heights in 2026, a trend exacerbated by years of demand from cryptocurrency mining and the subsequent boom in generative AI. The Nvidia RTX 5090, currently the company's top-tier consumer GPU, exemplifies this issue, with some models retailing at Best Buy for approximately $7,500.
Retail listings from Best Buy show both the ROG Astral and TUF Gaming variants of the 32GB RTX 5090 priced at $7,494.99. This is not a markup from a third-party seller but the direct retail price from a major chain. On Amazon, prices are similarly inflated, with a Gigabyte AORUS 5090 listed at $6,899, though currently out of stock. This card initially launched in January 2025 for $1,999 and has since seen its price more than triple, even considering its lowest recorded price of $3,885.
The RTX 5090 has always been an expensive card, but the dramatic price increase since its launch is particularly unusual. With Nvidia's next-generation 6000 series, codenamed Rubin, still only available as expensive workstation cards, the 5090 remains the current top offering for general consumers. Typically, a GPU's price would decrease significantly over time as it becomes more common, but the 5090 is experiencing limited availability and soaring costs due to high demand from AI server operations.
While the RTX 5080 is more readily available, it also comes with a significant price tag, starting around $1,700. This less powerful sibling offers roughly half the cores, VRAM, and memory bandwidth of the 5090 and is not capable of running 4K content at top specifications without compromises. Furthermore, a 1200W power supply is recommended for the RTX 5080.
The prevalence of inflated prices from third-party resellers is common, but Best Buy's direct pricing reflects the current market reality. Finding any RTX 5090 in stock across various U.S. retailers is a challenge, with many listings showing as "out of stock." Even Nvidia's official consumer site displays its GPU offerings, including the RTX 5090, as unavailable.