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The RTX 5090 is currently the most powerful gaming GPU on the market, sitting at the very top of Nvidia’s 50 series lineup. It boasts 32GB of GDDR7 VRAM, making it a solid choice for true 4K gaming and other demanding tasks. MSI has taken things even further with a new, custom model that pushes the RTX 5090 into a whole different category.

MSI has now officially released the MSI GeForce RTX 5090 32GB Lightning Z. The special edition graphics card was first shown off during CES 2026, and after weeks of waiting, the card has finally appeared on the market – but it’s far from cheap.

Resellers are ramping up the price of the RTX 5090 Lightning Z

Because this is a limited and premium model, the price is extremely high. While the RTX 5090 has an official MSRP of $1,999, real-world prices have already climbed well beyond that. Most RTX 5090 models are currently selling between $3,000 and $4,000 due to shortages and price hikes. The particularly high-end Lightning Z goes even further, and the $5,090.99 price tag on Best Buy is both suitable and comical, while being a reminder of just how expensive GPUs have gotten over the years.

The RTX 5090 Lightning Z is currently marked as sold out on Best Buy. This isn’t a massive surprise given that MSI confirmed that only 1,300 units were produced, and we’ll soon start seeing the card listed on third-party platforms at absurd prices. In fact, on eBay, we’ve already spotted a listing selling the card for approximately over $17,000, which makes no sense at all.

There’s another listing selling the Lightning Z for $9,998 (presale), which is still absurd but decent compared to the first one. 

Image Source: eBay

In any case, Nvidia’s flagship RTX 5090 already has a massive 575W TDP, but the Lightning Z pushes things to an extreme level. This model can draw up to 1000W of power thanks to a secondary 16-pin power connector. MSI includes two BIOS modes: an OC BIOS that allows power draw up to 800W, and an extreme BIOS that can push it all the way to 1000W.

Because of this, MSI recommends pairing the card with a 1600W power supply. The card is also fully water-cooled and features an integrated 8-inch display. This screen can show system stats, custom artwork, or animations, all controlled through MSI’s software.