Nvidia RTX 5080 stock is so barren that retailers are holding competitions where you can "win" the right to buy one for MSRP

An Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

  • An Indian tech retailer is offering three RTX 5080s at MSRP to "winners"
  • The RTX 5080 model in question is above the MSRP set by Nvidia
  • Worldwide availability of the entire RTX 50 series is still in a bleak place

Indian tech retailer EliteHubs is running a competition on social media where three lucky winners can... win the right to buy an RTX 5080 for MSRP. Instead of giving away a couple of high-end Blackwell cards, the promotion instead offers up a choice of three Colorful RTX 5080 Ultra OC models without the price hike.

The Instagram video outlines the three steps needed to participate in this RTX 5080 competition. You'll need to go to the website, click the collaboration banner, and fill in the details. If selected, you'll have the opportuntity to "win" an RTX 5080 for Rs.1,10,000 (about $1,260 / £980). Entries end on March 15, 2025, with results being posted over the weekend in a livestream on the same account.

Unlike many other countries around the world, such as the US and the UK, India doesn't appear to be suffering from the same RTX 5080 stock woes. EliteHubs currently has just shy of 20 RTX 5080 graphics cards in stock from Asus, Gigabyte, MSI, and Zotac, but you'll be paying a lot more for the privilege than the "winning" amount of the strictly limited Colorful collaboration.

As a frame of reference, the cheapest RTX 5080 graphics card available at EliteHubs right now is the Zotac Gaming RTX 5080 Solid for Rs. 144,999 (around $1,700 / £1,300), which is itself discounted from a previous listing price of Rs. 179,450 (about $2,000 / £1,600) with two units remaining at this price. That means the three Colorful models are a full 38% cheaper when going for MSRP, which in the US is $999 and £939 in the UK.

It's also important to note that the three Colorful RTX 5080 Ultra OC models are themselves not retailing for Nvidia's MSRP for the high-end Blackwell GPU, but the actual retail price of the AIB. It's common for manufacturers to have higher-end versions of top-end graphics cards, especially if they're featuring a particular color scheme, cooler, or overclocking functionality, but to see only three available (and at a premium themselves) is far from ideal.

The other 37 out-of-stock options mirror what we've seen worldwide with RTX 5080 stock waning. Some cards were available with Nvidia's sticker price that were (likely) unavailable within seconds of posting. It's a dire state for just about everyone, and it's no surprise that this promotional video (and promise of MSRP) has become one of the company's most engaged-with posts in recent memory.

The RTX 50 series stock issues persist months after launch

Few were expecting a bountiful supply of RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 graphics cards when they released back on January 30, 2025, but it's safe to say that no one could have anticipated just how limited they would be. Things are comparable to when the RTX 30 series "launched" back at the end of 2020, a launch that was marred by non-existent stock owing to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact causing the semiconductor shortage, and the boom of cryptocurrency miners of the time.

The RTX 40 series was far more available, with the whole lineup being easy enough to buy and use throughout its lifespan. It's discouraging, then, to see the RTX 50 series with its four current graphics cards so scarce for prospective buyers. It's this absurdity which has seen some retailers making competitons just for a slim chance to buy a card for what it actually costs, instead of at a discount or given away for free.

You may also like...

TOPICS
Aleksha McLoughlin
Contributor

Formerly TechRadar Gaming's Hardware Editor, Aleksha McLoughlin is now a freelance writer and editor specializing in computing tech, video games, and E-commerce. As well as her many contributions to this site, you'll also find her work available on sister sites such as PC Gamer, GamesRadar, and Android Central. Additionally, more of her bylines can be found on Trusted Reviews, Dexerto, Expert Reviews, Techopedia, PC Guide, VideoGamer, and more.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 sitting on its packaging
Nvidia RTX 5090 GPU stock rumored to be ‘basically non-existent’ for launch day, and RTX 5080 doesn’t sound like it’ll be much better
Nvidia RTX 5080 against a yellow TechRadar background
Where to buy Nvidia RTX 5080: most places are sold out, but there's still hope!
Zotac Gaming RTX 5090 Graphics Card
Zotac has a plan to keep RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUs away from the clutches of scalpers – and it sounds like it might be working
An Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 resting on an RTX 5090 on a gray crafting mat.
Nvidia RTX 5090 and 5080 GPU launch was frustrating and chaotic, leaving many PC gamers disappointed – exactly as the rumors predicted
The Nvidia RTX 5090 on a green background with a spiral pattern.
Where to buy Nvidia RTX 5090: these are the retailers I'd check
A closeup of the Nvidia GeForce RTX branding on the 5070 Ti
Nvidia's RTX 5000 GPUs continue to face severe supply issues, with RTX 5070 Ti reportedly being even worse for launch stock than the RTX 5080
Latest in GPU
An Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070
Nvidia RTX 5080 stock is so barren that retailers are holding competitions where you can "win" the right to buy one for MSRP
An Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
Nvidia could unleash RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti GPUs on PC gamers tomorrow, but there’s no sign of rumored RTX 5050 yet
An Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 on a table with its retail packaging
Nvidia RTX 5060 GPU spotted in Acer gaming PC, suggesting rumors of imminent launch are correct – and that it’ll run with only 8GB of video RAM
An AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT made by Sapphire on a table with its retail packaging
Want to buy an RX 9070 or 9070 XT but fed up of the GPUs being out of stock? AMD promises that “more supply is coming ASAP”
AMD RX 9070 GPU models
Modders do what AMD can't (or won't) by adding FSR 4 support to more games
Nvidia geforce rtx 3050
RTX 5050 rumors detail full spec of desktop graphics card, suggesting Nvidia may use slower video RAM – but I wouldn’t panic yet
Latest in News
NordicTrack Ultra 1
The new NordicTrack Ultra 1 treadmill looks like it was designed by an architect and costs $15,000
An Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070
Nvidia RTX 5080 stock is so barren that retailers are holding competitions where you can "win" the right to buy one for MSRP
Assassin's Creed Shadows
Ubisoft shareholder accuses publisher of 'misleading investors', plans protest outside Paris HQ
Google Gemini AI logo on a smartphone with Google background
I made an AI version of Bilbo Baggins using Goggle Gemini for free, and shared a pipe with him outside Bag End – here’s what you can now do with Gems
Nicole Kidman wears a blue blouse with her arms crossed.
Netflix might be renewing The Perfect Couple and Beauty in Black for season 2, but I don’t get why when it’s canceled shows with poorer ratings
The Russo brothers posing for a photograph and Herman carrying a Volkswagen camper van in The Electric State
'We're optimists': AI enthusiasts Joe and Anthony Russo defend its use in movies and TV shows, but admit there are 'very real dangers' around its application