The Price of Madness: MSI RTX 5090 Lightning Z Graphics Card Listed on eBay for Nearly $27,000

The Price of Madness — MSI RTX 5090 Lightning Z Graphics Card Listed on eBay for Nearly $27,000

If you thought component prices were already sky-high, scalpers are ready to prove otherwise. The limited-edition MSI GeForce RTX 5090 Lightning Z graphics card, which has just started reaching lucky owners, has already become the target of incredible speculation. Listings have appeared on eBay asking a staggering $26,999 for this card — that's almost 6 times (or 500% more than) its suggested retail price.

This astronomical markup is explained by the device's status. MSI's Lightning Z series has always been considered the "royal" line among graphics cards — it's produced in a limited run and is primarily intended for extreme overclockers who set world records. The card features a reinforced power delivery system, a unique design, and the best chips, hand-picked. For collectors and enthusiasts with deep pockets, it's a true trophy, which scalpers are trying to capitalize on.

It's important to understand that such listings are more of a market stress test than a real offer for the average gamer. For $27,000, you could buy a dozen RTX 5090s in other configurations.