The recently launched Nvidia RTX 50 series graphics cards have sparked widespread concern among tech enthusiasts and gamers due to their skyrocketing prices. Board partners are charging hundreds of dollars more than the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP), leading to fears of a repeat of the price inflation experienced during the cryptocurrency boom in 2021. Reports from Hardware & Co reveal that MSI, a prominent manufacturer of Nvidia graphics cards, has raised prices on its RTX 50 series models, effectively eliminating the last few listings that maintained the MSRP pretense.
Over the weekend, MSI briefly raised the prices of its Nvidia RTX 50 series graphics cards, with the cheapest RTX 5070 Ti models seeing significant price hikes. A screenshot from VideoCardz highlighted that the Shadow 3X variant was listed at $819 and the Shadow 3X OC at $839, both of which have since reverted to the original MSRP of $749. Additionally, the Ventus 3X OC and Inspire 3X OC models experienced temporary price increases of $70 and $80, respectively. This trend raises concerns about the sustainability of affordable gaming as price hikes become increasingly common.
Unfortunately, MSI continues to impose substantial premiums on all available RTX 5080 and 5090 models. For instance, despite the RTX 5080's official MSRP of $999, MSI's lowest-priced option, the Ventus 3X, is currently listed at $1,139. Similarly, the RTX 5090, which is theoretically priced at $1,999, starts at an alarming $2,399. While other board partners have also increased prices for various RTX 50 models, some listings still reflect the MSRP, indicating that not all manufacturers are following MSI's aggressive pricing strategy—at least for now.
The standard RTX 5070, set to launch on March 5, has thus far maintained its $549 list price, offering a glimmer of hope for consumers seeking value in the current market. However, the inflated prices across the RTX 50 series have exacerbated the already lukewarm cost-per-frame improvements seen with these new GPUs. Our extensive RTX 5070 Ti review concluded that the graphics card is only a worthwhile investment at its MSRP. At $900, potential buyers may find better value in purchasing an RTX 4070 Ti from two years ago, which still offers competitive performance.
Despite the inflated prices, many of these models sell out almost instantly. When Nvidia's latest lineup debuted in January, retailers received only limited quantities of high-end cards—some even reporting double- or single-digit stock levels. The uncertainty surrounding stock availability continues to frustrate eager customers. One theory explaining the lack of MSRP models from board partners points to their razor-thin profit margins, which have been further strained by Nvidia's decision to incorporate more expensive GDDR7 VRAM into every RTX 50 GPU. Moreover, a recent earthquake in Taiwan has likely disrupted supply chains, compounding the challenges faced by manufacturers and consumers alike.
As the Nvidia RTX 50 series continues to navigate these tumultuous market conditions, consumers are left pondering whether the latest graphics cards are worth the investment or if they should wait for more competitive pricing and availability in the future.
