New Nvidia RTX 5000 Series GPU Prices To Disappoint?

Nvidia is expected to unveil new video cards at CES, an event that has the tech world buzzing about what’s next in the GPU space. Speculation is rife about the performance, features, and, most importantly, the pricing of these new products. Historically, Nvidia has set high price points for its premium GPUs, such as the RTX 4090, which launched at $1,500, and the 4080, priced at $1,100. 

This trend has frustrated many gamers and enthusiasts who feel the pricing structure is moving in the wrong direction. There’s a growing desire among users for Nvidia to focus on delivering affordable options that make higher resolutions like 1440p achievable on a budget.

The upcoming 5090 and 5080 models are likely to continue this upward pricing trend. Reports from Tom's Hardware, citing a Chinese retailer named WXNod, suggest that the RTX 5090 could be priced at 18,999 yuan, roughly $2,600 when converted to US dollars. Meanwhile, the RTX 5080 is pegged at 9,899 yuan, translating to around $1,350. 

However, these are pre-tax prices from China, where a 13% tax applies so that US prices may differ. Many expect the 5090 to land in the $2,000 range, with the 5080 around $1,200. This represents a 20% price hike over previous models like the 4080. These numbers underscore the increasing financial barrier for gamers who want to stay current with Nvidia’s latest offerings.

The high cost of the 5090 raises questions about its practicality. For 95% of gamers, such a card might be unnecessary, especially if their primary goal is gaming at resolutions like 1440p or 4K. While some extreme setups, such as multiple 8K monitors, could benefit from the RTX 5090’s potential capabilities, this is far from the norm. Even the RTX 5080, with its expected price tag, may be excessive for most gamers’ needs. The RTX 4080, for instance, is already considered overkill for many playing at 1440p.

The effects of such pricing dynamics can be observed in the general GPU market. When new cards were released, older models usually experienced massive price reductions, which allowed gamers to put together affordable rigs. The increase in price from Nvidia has placed the cost of building gaming towers on a very dicey edge. Of course, depreciation still happens in the used GPU market, but the lack of price cuts on new cards severely limits opportunities for budget-friendly upgrades.

For those currently using high-performance GPUs like the 3060 Ti, the incentive to upgrade is minimal unless Nvidia delivers groundbreaking features or performance improvements with the 5090 or 5080. Nvidia will be forced to justify the heavy costs of these cards to consumers at CES. Until that moment, many fans will be content sticking with the older models, mostly the 4080, in hopes of a reduction in price after the first users move to the fresh generation of GPUs. Nvidia's announcements will decide whether any of these new cards will ignite excitement in the marketplace or further entrench the view of ever-reducing returns with GPUs.