The GPU market is a high-stakes game, and with the RTX 5090 looming, every enthusiast is sweating over one question: Is now the time to sell my RTX 4090? With rumors of sky-high prices and scarce supply for NVIDIA’s next flagship, the clock is ticking. Drawing from the heated 49-comment thread on Overclock.net, this article breaks down why your RTX 4090’s resale value is peaking—and how to make a smart move before the Blackwell wave crashes. (Keywords: RTX 4090 resale value, RTX 5090 release, GPU upgrade strategy)
Why Now Is the Peak Time to Sell Your RTX 4090
Picture this: you snagged an RTX 4090 Suprim Liquid X, crushing 4K 144Hz OLED gaming with Cyberpunk 2077’s path-traced visuals. But the RTX 5090’s shadow is growing—rumored to pack a GB202 chip with 30%+ performance gains and a jaw-dropping €2700 price tag (in Spain). The Overclock.net community, with 4.2K views and 18 contributors, lays it bare: your 4090 can fetch €1500-1600 now, a golden ticket before the market shifts.
- History’s Harsh Lesson: Past GPU launches (3090 to 4090) show flagship prices tank when new cards drop. Turing was an outlier (small gains, big price hikes), but Blackwell’s different. The 5090’s rumored high cost and low supply, plus a 5080 with just 16GB GDDR7 (matching 4090 performance at best), mean your 24GB beast could hold value—or even shine brighter post-launch.
- Spain’s Stock Struggle: The original poster (OP) in Spain laments local GPU shortages. Their 3090 Kingpin sold instantly, and now their 4090 could do the same. One user sold a Liquid X 4090 for $2100, breaking even after fees: “Used it for a year, sold for what I paid—win!” For 4K high-refresh gamers (like OP’s 83” OLED setup), DLSS and frame gen hit 140FPS sweet spots. But a 5090 upgrade? It’s a pricey 600W+ gamble for modest gains.
Selling now maximizes returns. Grab a 4070 Super as a stopgap (with a 60-day return policy, as one user did) and pocket the difference.
The Case for Keeping Your 4090: A Value Fortress
Not everyone’s jumping ship. Some Overclock.net veterans argue: “Hold off until NVIDIA’s CES 2025 reveal!” Here’s why:
- 5090’s Double-Edged Sword: If the 5080 launches at $1200-1400 with half the 5090’s specs, your 4090’s 24GB VRAM remains king for AI workloads or high-res gaming (Elite: Dangerous at 10K internal resolution, anyone?). A pricier, low-volume 5090 keeps the 4090 a compelling buy.
- Supply Nightmares: The 4090 took 46 days to snag secondhand; the 5090 could be worse. NVIDIA’s prioritizing AI chips, and GB202 yields are reportedly low. Sell now, and you risk 2-3 months without a GPU. One user quipped: “I’ve got a P5800X 1.6TB SSD, but I’m not ‘naked’ for months waiting for a 5090.”
- Gaming Reality Check: New games (Starfield, Black Myth: Wukong) are optimized for 4090s, and major releases are years out. Why ditch a card that nails 150FPS for a costly upgrade? “We enthusiasts burn cash on hardware we don’t need,” one user laughed.
| Sell vs. Keep: Quick Comparison | Sell Now (Pro) | Keep It (Con) |
|---|---|---|
| Price Impact | €1500-1600 peak, low risk of €200-400 loss | Stable or slight dip, long-term value |
| Upgrade Risk | Fast cash, easy to buy stopgap | Supply shortages, 2-3 month wait |
| Performance Gain | Short-term same, long-term 5090 boost | 4090 nails 4K 144Hz, saves upgrade cost |
| Best For | Diehard upgraders, low-stock regions | Patient gamers, waiting for official specs |
My Take: Act Fast or Hold Tight—Your Call
Your RTX 4090 isn’t “old news”—it’s a beast. But the 5090’s hype is pushing its resale value to a tipping point. If you’re set on the 5090, sell now: list on eBay or Craigslist to dodge 13-15% fees, or follow OP’s plan to target an MSI Suprim Air/Liquid for €2700. Hesitant? Wait for NVIDIA’s CES 2025 reveal (rumored 5080/5070Ti first) to gauge the 5090’s leap.
The GPU market’s a battlefield—no crystal ball, just player wisdom. Upgrading is passion, not necessity. Are you selling or staying loyal to your 4090? Drop your story below—we’re decoding the next era together!