Buckle up, gamers and tech enthusiasts! The dreaded GPU price surge is back, and it's hitting your wallets harder than ever. Recently, Central Computers, one of the last dedicated computer stores in Silicon Valley, announced it has a limited stock of AMD graphics cards for sale. The catch? A shocking markup on the already pricey Radeon RX 9070 XT, now being sold for $850 instead of its original $600.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. A quick scan of major US retailers and eBay reveals a distressing trend: the return of the great GPU shortage. Many AMD graphics cards are seeing markups ranging from $100 to a staggering $280. If you’re in the market for Nvidia's RTX 5080, brace yourself — it now commands over $1,500, that’s a full $500 above its MSRP! The RTX 5090, touted as the most powerful consumer GPU, is now listed for as much as $3,000, far past its $2,000 sticker price.

The Infamous Price Table Breakdown

Check out these eye-popping numbers from April 2025:

**GPU Street Prices Overview** - **AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT**: MSRP $599, Average eBay Price $957, Best Retail Price $880 - **Nvidia RTX 5090**: MSRP $1,999, Average eBay Price $3,871, Best Retail Price $3,140 - **Nvidia RTX 5080**: MSRP $999, Average eBay Price $1,533, Best Retail Price $1,390 These aren’t just minor fluctuations; they signify a worrying trend where retailers are taking advantage of both high demand and limited availability.

It's worth noting that tariffs aren't the sole villains in this story. Even before March, many retailers were scalping entry-level AMD GPUs, showing that greedy practices may be part of the problem. Adding fuel to the fire, the impending termination of the de minimis exemption on May 2nd could further inflate prices, subjecting more shipments valued at $800 or less to taxes.

What's the Deal with MSRP Models?

Let’s delve deeper into AMD's 'MSRP' models, which were originally set between $549 and $599. Here’s what you need to know:

**Current MSRP GPU Pricing** - **PowerColor Reaper 9070 XT**: Original MSRP $599, now listed for $699 at Newegg and $799 at Micro Center. - **Sapphire Pulse 9070 XT**: MSRP $599, with prices reaching as high as $879. - **ASRock Steel Legend 9070 XT**: MSRP $599, now averaging around $892 on eBay.

It’s clear that while retailers like Newegg and Micro Center show some competitiveness, many models are perpetually out of stock or listed at inflated prices on platforms we used to trust.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic from December 2020 to July 2022, I continuously monitored GPU and gaming console prices, where some GPUs spiked to three times their MSRP. Now, as we approach a new wave of price gouging, I want to hear from you, the readers: Should I keep tracking these outrageous prices, or are you just hoping for a safe moment to dive back into the market?