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Published: March 15, 2025 | Author: Mark Campbell

PowerGPU CEO calls our RTX 5090 scalping from distributors – $3000+ GPU costs

PowerGPU CEO calls out distributors for scalping Nvidia’s RTX 5090 graphics cards

Jese Martinez, the CEO of PowerGPU, has posted a video on Twitter/X calling our Distributors for scalping Nvidia’s RTX 5090 graphics cards. Despite the GPU’s MSRP of $1999, the company cannot purchase an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 for under $3,000. Even baseline models have absurd pricing.

Note that when PowerGPU says $3,000, that’s the price they are paying for these GPUs. If they want to make a profit, they need to charge their customers more than that. This has led to some customers calling PowerGPU scalpers, despite the fact that they cannot purchase these GPUs at reasonable prices.

Below is part of what Jese Martinez had to say about RTX 5090 Pricing.

Essentially the RTX 5090 has been a really hard GPU to get. People are still lining up at MicroCenter to get them. Even us, as a system integrator, we’re also having difficulties getting these GPUs. We’ve gotten a limited quantity since launch. It took about 2-3 weeks just to get our first batch.

The problem now is going forward that we’re going into Mid-March and we are, essentially, even from distribution, we’re getting scalped. Literally.

We’re being very transparent with our community, especially on stream, I’ve been showing the community what’s going on. I feel like I needed to go out publicly and show you guys as well. We’re literally getting offered GPUs, 5090s, (at cost for us), anywhere from $3,050 to $3,1o0. These prices aren’t for high-end models, these are low-mid-range models.

– Jese Martinez – CEO of PowerGPU

Are Nvidia to blame for RTX 5090 scalping?

Distributors can sell Nvidia’s RTX 5090 GPUs at absurd prices because supply is not meeting demand. Simply put, Nvidia had not built enough RTX 5090 graphics cards to satisfy demand. When supply outstrips demand, suppliers can make more money. We saw this when GPU mining was popular and during the COVID-19 pandemic. If demand outstrips supply, prices rise.

While consumers often blame retailers for scalping, the truth is that the real scalping usually happens earlier in the supply chain. The distributors that sell to retailers often hike their prices when they can, and this can also occur earlier in the supply chain if manufacturers increase their prices. Simply put, when supply doesn’t meet demand, someone greedy will increase their prices. While those increasing their prices may feel like they are being savvy or shrewd, greed is greed and scalping is scalping.

In another Twitter/X post, PowerGPU compared its inventory of AMD GPUs to its inventory of Nvidia GPUs. There is no comparison. There is one RTX 5090 and several stacks of Radeon RX 9070 series GPUs.

Nvidia needs to take action and greatly increase its GPU shipments. If it fails to do so, it will give AMD space to gain market share at its expense. Furthermore, failing to act will continue damaging Nvidia’s reputation within the gaming market. If Nvidia’s GPUs can’t sell for near MSRP prices, the word “liar” will become associated with the brand.

You can join the discussion on PowerGPU’s CEO discussing distributor scalping on the OC3D Forums.

 

Mark Campbell

Mark Campbell

A Northern Irish father, husband, and techie that works to turn tea and coffee into articles when he isn’t painting his extensive minis collection or using things to make other things.

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