NVIDIA RTX 5090 faces supply issues and theft reports

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is facing significant market challenges, including supply shortages and criminal activity. In China, reports indicate the existence of industrial-scale conversion chains where RTX 5090 cards are being dismantled. These operations involve desoldering GPU and memory components to repurpose them for AI server workloads using blower-style thermal topologies, which may be contributing to the scarcity of retail units in Western markets.

In Brazil, a theft at Guarulhos Airport involving a shipment valued at approximately $470,000 has been reported. At least one stolen Zotac Gaming RTX 5090 was identified on an online marketplace after its serial number was traced back to the stolen goods. The theft allegedly involved warehouse employees and forklift operators. Due to high demand and scarcity, retail prices for the cards have surged, with some third-party sellers listing them for over $10,000.