Buying an RTX 5090 PC from Micro Center now means signing a form promising it won't leave the US

A surprising twist in the purchase of a pre-built RTX 5090 PC from Micro Center now involves signing a declaration that the flagship graphics card will not leave the United States. Redditor Krothic recently acquired a PowerSpec Ai90 prebuilt PC featuring an RTX 5090, and upon completion of the purchase, they were required to sign a form and have their driver's license scanned, linking their identity to the transaction.

Following the necessary personal and contact information fields, the form asserts that the buyer must utilize the PC for personal or business use within the United States, and must confirm that they have accurately identified the end user. Subsequent points ensure the product remains within the United States, prohibiting any export, re-export, transfer, resale, or supply causing the PC to leave the US for any purpose.

The RTX 5090, priced at over $7,000, is an AI-focused card with 32GB of VRAM, and is restricted from export to mainland China under US export controls. Micro Center's manager revealed that this policy has been in place for the past two days, raising questions regarding its enforceability and potential implications if the buyer were to sell the system or GPU second-hand or if it were to be stolen abroad.

Some users have also reported that Micro Center does not sell RTX 5090 systems to customers who have previously purchased one. This policy appears to be an additional hurdle for potential buyers of the RTX 5090 and further highlights the challenges associated with acquiring AI-focused hardware.