RTX 5090 bundled with eight motherboards as retailers repeat crypto-era tactics

A Chinese retailer listed the RTX 5090 in a bundle requiring buyers to purchase eight motherboards alongside the GPU, according to Tom's Hardware. The bundle mirrors tactics retailers used during the 2021 crypto mining shortage, when stores forced customers to buy low-demand parts to get high-demand GPUs.

The specific bundle pairs the 5090 with eight different motherboards across various chipsets. No pricing was disclosed in the original listing. This appears to be an isolated case so far — major U.S. and European retailers aren't running similar schemes.

If this becomes widespread, it's a sign supply is tighter than NVIDIA's public statements suggest. The 5090 launched with better availability than the 4090 did, but spot shortages and reseller markups are creeping back in key markets. Forced bundles are a retailer cash grab, not a legitimate supply constraint — they're selling stock they can't move by holding the GPU hostage.

If you're hunting for a 5090, check current stock and price trends before paying over MSRP or accepting junk bundles.