NVIDIA's tight margins on GeForce RTX 50 series: pressure on AIBs as 'MSRP feels like charity'

NVIDIA's new GeForce RTX 5090 is here and that MSRP of $1999 is very hard to find, which is why we saw the RTX 5090 Founders Edition released first with reviewers tackling the FE and its $1999 pricing... but now custom RTX 5090 reviews are here, and those MSRPs are skyrocketing.

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The review embargo lifted on January 23 with no RTX 5090 priced at $1999 -- that is, apart from NVIDIA's in-house GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition -- while custom cards with elaborate coolers costs significantly more. ASUS's new flagship GeForce RTX 5090 Astral has an MSRP of $2800, adding $800+ to the RTX 5090 FE and its MSRP of $1999... which is a hard green pill to swallow.

But in a new post by Chiphell leaker "wjm47196" we're hearing some different news: NVIDIA's tight margins on the new GeForce RTX 50 series GPUs is putting pressure on AIB partners, making the $1999 MSRP on the GeForce RTX 5090 "feel like charity".

• Read more: RTX 5090, RTX 5080 supply leaks: RTX 5080 supply is OK, RTX 5090 will be TIGHT

The leaker explained: "this time Huang's crazy leeks have already hit the manufacturers. Just like the 30 series, the basic version is 100% out of stock. Last time it was mining, but the price of chips + video memory is actually normal. This time Huang left the manufacturer with a very, very low gross profit. Making the basic version according to MSRP is equivalent to charity. It is consistent with what EVGA revealed when it withdrew. Huang: you just make a PCB and a heatsink. Why do you make so much money? Wait and buy it".

• Read more: MSI GeForce RTX 5090 SUPRIM SOC Review
• Read more: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition Review

The post continued: "same... all 50 series are like this, maybe 5060 will be a little more. I strongly suspect that the cost of exclusive GDDR7 is all spread to the manufacturer, otherwise it would not be so expensive to package".