Nvidia asserts that the RTX 5000 has been shipped more effectively than the 4000, yet gamers continue to wait.

      Nvidia is attempting to impress the media with its GeForce RTX 5000 series by claiming that the new GPUs are outperforming the previous generation in sales. However, numerous analysts are skeptical of this assertion.

      PC Mag speculated that Nvidia might have staged a "paper launch" for the RTX 5000 series, implying that there may be limited product availability for consumers. Most of the GPUs currently in circulation, particularly the high-end models like the 5090 and 5080, seem to be in the hands of reviewers, influencers, and dedicated enthusiasts rather than average gamers, who are still predominantly using older models.

      On Wednesday, Nvidia executives met with the media and acknowledged the frustrations consumers have faced due to the scarce availability of RTX 5000 series GPUs. The first models were released on January 30, with subsequent launches occurring in phases. Although Nvidia has faced challenges regarding availability, pricing issues with third-party sellers, and quality control, there remains a strong demand for its GPUs, resulting in some consumers resorting to scalpers. Tom’s Hardware pointed out that RTX 5090 GPUs have sold on eBay for as much as $4,500, even though Nvidia's starting price is $2,000.

      In an effort to reassure consumers, Nvidia's Vice President of the GeForce Platform, Jason Paul, informed reporters that Nvidia and its partners are striving to enhance supply to meet demand rapidly. He made a somewhat optimistic comparison to previous GPU series, stating, “In the first five weeks since the 50 series GPUs became available, we’ve shipped double the amount compared to the 40 series during the same period, so supply is flowing.”

      However, analysts are questioning the validity of these claims given the context of the releases. Various publications pointed out that Nvidia launched several models from the 5000 series over the last five weeks, including the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 on January 30, the RTX 5070 Ti on February 20, and the RTX 5070 on March 5. It’s important to note that the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 have been consistently in short supply, whereas the RTX 4090 was the only GPU released during the first five weeks before the RTX 4080 debuted on November 16.

      Although not mentioned, Nvidia also intends to introduce the RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060 GPUs, with announcements expected in mid-March and an April release slated for the market.

      In its recent earnings call last month, Nvidia revealed it faced supply issues between November 2024 and January 2025 but anticipates an increase in supply in the coming months. If true, this suggests that the launch of the RTX 5000 series was problematic from the outset, as this period directly precedes the launches of the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080. Nvidia had cautioned consumers about the limited availability when announcing the GPUs in late January. This situation likely required the company to devise methods to keep consumers engaged and interested, leading to the numerous sensational headlines related to the limited supply of RTX 5000 series GPUs.

      While the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 were in short supply, an unrelated Reddit user managed to have a high-end GPU to examine its compatibility with a previous-gen PhysX-compatible GPU. Similarly, YouTubers and journalists had access to the RTX 5090 to investigate the issues regarding missing ROPs (Raster Operations Pipeline units). Additionally, third-party retailers have been inflating prices of out-of-stock GPUs above their MSRP, only to decrease them again once media reports surfaced.

      This latest media briefing may simply serve as another tactic to obscure the ongoing shortage of GPUs available to meet consumer demand. In the meantime, average gamers continue to be satisfied with previous Nvidia GPU models due to their availability and more affordable prices. A recent Steam Hardware and Software Survey showed that the RTX 4060 is currently the most popular graphics card among users on the platform. Launched in June 2023, its price ranges from $300 to $350, with the RTX 3060 and RTX 4060 Ti also being top choices for Steam users.

      While consumers are certainly eager to acquire the latest GPUs, the components currently available continue to meet their needs effectively.