The price of high-end graphics cards has climbed sharply through successive cryptocurrency-mining and generative-AI booms. In 2026, Nvidia’s RTX 5090 is an extreme example, with one 32GB model listed for almost US$7,500.
Best Buy has listed both the ROG Astral and TUF Gaming versions of the 32GB RTX 5090 at US$7,494.99. The card remains Nvidia’s highest-end general-market GPU, although this is a United States listing rather than an Australian retail price. The current listing is available at Best Buy.
The matching prices were highlighted by am.will on X. Both listings cover 32GB versions of the flagship GPU, making the figure particularly striking for a consumer graphics card.
RTX 5090 pricing has moved far beyond launch MSRP
Amazon has offered little relief. Gigabyte’s AORUS 5090 was last sold there for US$6,899, but it is now out of stock. Price tracking recorded that sale at US$4,888 at launch, already more than twice the intended US$1,999 MSRP. The card had previously reached US$3,885, meaning the later sale price was more than three times the official launch figure, even though very few buyers appear to have had a realistic opportunity to purchase it at that rate.
The RTX 5090 launched in January 2025 as Nvidia’s cutting-edge consumer GPU. Normally, availability would improve and prices would ease as a graphics card became established. Instead, the card’s price has reportedly doubled, while supply remains extremely limited.
Nvidia’s next RTX 6000 desktop range, codenamed Rubin, has not been announced for home computers. Rubin workstation cards are already available, but they cost around US$15,000 or more. Strong demand from AI server warehouses is absorbing hardware that might otherwise reach consumer systems.
The RTX 5080 is more attainable, but still expensive
The RTX 5080 is considerably easier to find, with prices starting at approximately US$1,700. That remains a substantial outlay for anyone building a new PC in Australia or elsewhere, but it is far less extreme than the current RTX 5090 listings.
Performance is also lower: the RTX 5080 is roughly 50 percent less powerful, with half the cores, half the VRAM and half the memory bandwidth of the 5090. It does not require a 1,200W power supply, although buyers should not expect to run every game at 4K resolution and maximum settings.
Limited stock is part of the problem
Checking other United States retailers produces a familiar result, with many listings marked out of stock. Nvidia’s own site also shows little useful RTX 5090 availability, leaving Best Buy notable simply for having a listing.
For arcade builders, this is a reminder that powerful PC hardware can be a costly part of a custom cabinet project. RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide covers the broader planning process, while arcade parts and DIY arcade kits can help with more practical builds. You can also browse the latest arcade news and features.
Correction, 16 September 2026: The Best Buy prices were initially described as first-party listings. That was incorrect. The links later pointed to a different seller offering a lower price, but that seller had no stock.
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