NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 Available at Spanish Retailer; EU Consumers Facing Increased “Premium Tax” Costs

NVIDIA’s latest high-performance graphics cards, the GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, have officially made their debut in European retail markets. However, potential buyers may want to prepare for some shocking price tags, particularly for the flagship GeForce RTX 5090, which has been listed at an eye-watering €2,889.

GeForce RTX 5090 Pricing Surges: Up to €2,889 Including VAT

The price of NVIDIA’s RTX 50 series GPUs is expected to vary significantly across different European countries, largely due to differing VAT rates. As anticipation builds for this new lineup, retailers are beginning to post listings, albeit at prices that some may find hard to stomach. The highest listing for the RTX 5090 at a Spanish retailer shows a staggering cost of €2,889 (approximately $2,972), which conveniently includes a 21% VAT.

The ZOTAC GeForce RTX 5090 AMP Gaming Extreme stands out as one of the premium models in the aftermarket board (AIB) category accounted for in this price range. Meanwhile, less extravagant options, such as the Gigabyte Windforce OC, are still hefty at €2,599 with VAT. Below are the various GeForce RTX 5090 models currently available from the retailer:

PNY GeForce RTX 5090 Epic-X – €2,649
PNY GeForce RTX 5090 OC – €2,599
ZOTAC GeForce RTX 5090 AMP Gaming Extreme – €2,889
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5090 OC – €2,789
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5090 – €2,769
Gigabyte AORUS Master GeForce RTX 5090 – €2,759
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5090 Gaming – €2,649
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5090 Windforce OC – €2,599

It’s crucial to remember that these prices already include the 21% VAT. For instance, excluding VAT, the ZOTAC GeForce RTX 5090 AMP Gaming Extreme could be priced around €2,387.60 (or about $2,455). Given that its MSRP in the U.S. is at $1,999, customers are facing a considerable markup just to acquire the models around their launch date.

The GeForce RTX 5080 isn’t far behind in terms of pricing, with the most expensive variant, the Gigabyte AORUS Xtreme Waterforce, listed at €2,269. On the lower spectrum, mid-tier variants like the ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 5080 and PNY’s GeForce RTX 5080 Epic-X are available at approximately €1,836 and €1,529 respectively, both inclusive of VAT. With such pricing dynamics, buyers may find themselves paying an extra $200 to $400 at launch.

This scene of inflated on-launch prices is not limited to Europe; U.S. retailers are also known to hike prices considerably above the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) to leverage the excitement surrounding new releases. Recently, discussions have highlighted concerns over stock availability on launch dates, suggesting that prices could continue to rise. This leads to a pressing question: Are the NVIDIA RTX 50 high-end models worth the escalating costs and logistical headaches?

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