ASUS recently unveiled a remarkable GPU: the gold-plated RTX 5090, showcased in China. This isn’t your typical graphics card; it’s expected to cost over $500,000, making it possibly the most expensive GPU ever. Imagine owning a piece of tech that’s made from about 5 kg of gold!
Let’s break it down. The RTX 5090 typically weighs between 2.5 and 3.0 kg. With the gold shroud, this card tips the scales at 7.2 kg. That’s a hefty addition, primarily from the solid gold exterior. The heatsink inside is likely made of costly copper, which is more expensive than standard aluminum.
One interesting point is how ASUS compared this new model to their previous ROG Astral RTX 5090 Dhahab edition. While that version had a gold plating, this one boasts pure gold. However, some photos suggest that the design could use a bit more polish. It lacks the shine and detail that the earlier model had, but it’s the weight and material that really stand out.
Interestingly, the proposed price is over 10 times that of NVIDIA’s high-end Blackwell B200 GPU, which is aimed at data centers rather than gamers. In contrast, the Dhahab edition launched at around $8,000 in the Middle East, making this new offering seem astronomically overpriced. To put it in perspective, the standard RTX 5090 retails for about $2,000—so this gold version is seemingly priced at an outrageous 250 times more.
Such exorbitant prices spark curiosity. Are tech enthusiasts, collectors, or wealthy investors the target market? There’s a growing trend among consumers showing a willingness to pay for luxury items, including high-end gaming gear. A recent survey indicated that up to 30% of gamers are willing to spend significantly more for unique and fancy products. This gold GPU might just fit that bill!
In the world of technology, affordability often takes a backseat to novelty. But, one has to wonder about the practicality of this lavish trend. Would you invest in such a piece of tech, or is it just a luxury item with little functional return? As this story unfolds, it’ll be fascinating to see how the gaming and tech communities react to such extremes in pricing.