Purchasing Nvidia's flagship RTX 5090 graphics card could paradoxically be more economical by attending QuakeCon in person, according to one analysis. While Nvidia has established a "Verified Priority Access IRL" at its QuakeCon booth for attendees to purchase the GeForce RTX 5090, RTX 5080, or RTX 5070 Founders Edition cards at MSRP, the current inflated online prices make the travel option a consideration.
The cheapest available online listing for the RTX 5090 was found to be approximately $4,500 USD, or £3,499 GBP. In contrast, a hypothetical trip from the UK to Dallas, Texas for QuakeCon, including a round-trip flight costing around $1,428 USD, the RTX 5090's MSRP of $1,999 USD, and a $16.50 QuakeCon admission fee, would total just over $3,443 USD (roughly £2,556 GBP). This calculation, however, does not account for potential jet lag or the possibility of the card being sold out at the booth, as supplies are limited daily.
Beyond direct purchase opportunities, Nvidia is also offering RTX 50-series GPUs as prizes. The winner of the Quake III Arena RTX Remix and DOOM: The Dark Ages — Revelations challenges will receive a GeForce RTX 5070 Founders Edition. Additionally, recipients of the QuakeCon Mod Contest awards will be granted an RTX 50-Series GPU. These competitive avenues present an alternative, albeit skill-dependent, method to acquire a high-end graphics card.
Rumors also suggest that Nvidia graphics card prices may increase by as much as 30%, further complicating the landscape for consumers seeking to purchase new hardware at or near MSRP. The company has not officially commented on these price increase rumors.