Nvidia RTX 5090 ships in bizarre 8-motherboard bundle — retailers hold GPUs hostage similar to the crypto boom

In a bizarre market trend reminiscent of the cryptocurrency boom, Nvidia's RTX 5090 graphics card is being bundled with numerous motherboards and other components in Taiwan. Retailers are employing this strategy to clear inventory, as the high prices of GPUs, driven by the AI-driven memory crisis, are causing many buyers to pause or delay purchases.

The RTX 5090, typically priced at over $4,800, is often sold alongside several motherboards and graphics cards, offering potential buyers a high-end system or multiple entry-level gaming rigs. However, these bundles carry a premium, with some totalling more than $8,500 USD. Despite the inflated prices, only those with substantial disposable income are still investing in PC parts, as the market contracts by double digits this year, with entry-level PC sales particularly affected, and a full recovery anticipated in 2029.