NVIDIA RTX 5090 Faces Up to 16-Week Stock Delay at UK Retailer, While RTX 5080 Returns Sooner

NVIDIA enthusiasts, brace yourselves for a potentially long wait if you’re looking to snag the RTX 5090 or 5080 from Overclockers UK. These coveted GPUs might take weeks or even months before they’re back on the shelves.

Despite a highly anticipated release, the launch of NVIDIA’s RTX 50 series didn’t go as planned, and it quickly got the infamous title of a “paper launch.” It turned out to be quite the scramble, with some retailers not receiving a single unit of the RTX 5090, while those that did barely had a handful to sell. The moment these GPUs hit the market, they vanished within minutes. Even the RTX 5080, though slightly more available, was quickly snatched up despite not offering a massive generational improvement.

Are you one of the tech lovers hoping to get your hands on these top-tier cards? Well, patience is going to be your virtue. According to Overclockers UK, both the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 are sold out, and pre-orders have been halted entirely. Their site currently doesn’t offer any pre-order options, even for those willing to simply reserve their spot in line.

When can you expect them to return? Overclockers UK suggests the RTX 5090 may take anywhere from 3 to as long as 16 weeks to reappear in their inventory, while the RTX 5080 might make a comeback within 2 to 6 weeks. In the worst-case scenario, a 16-week wait would put potential buyers around the beginning of May 2025, by which time, the RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5070 would already be available, with their launches slated for February 20th and sometime in March, respectively.

In an update from Overclockers UK, they mentioned that due to overwhelming demand and limited supply, every single RTX 50 series card flew off the shelves shortly after launch. Some stores managed to accept a limited number of pre-orders, but not nearly enough to satisfy the eager customer base.

While the RTX 5080 could potentially hit stock much sooner, possibly in just over a month, its release initially had relatively better global availability. Still, many enthusiasts were left empty-handed. Despite lacking major improvements over its predecessor, the RTX 5080 maintained the same price as the RTX 4080 Super, which drew in crowds eager to buy.

As a result, scenes of eager buyers camping out or joining lottery systems at retailers became common, all for the chance to spend big bucks on these GPUs. Overclockers UK’s decision to pause pre-orders aims to help manage customer expectations, ensuring no future disappointment for those still waiting in the pre-order queue without a confirmation email.

In short, while it’s uncertain when the RTX 5090 and 5080 will make their grand return in stores globally, it won’t be as soon as many might hope. In the meantime, keep your fingers crossed and your wallets ready.