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A March 2025 report described ASUS ROG Astral RTX 5090 cards lingering on shelves at two Micro Center locations, but it did not show that gamers broadly rejected the card. Its $3,719 figure was a historical reported retail price, and the store observations focused on the liquid-cooled Astral LC model—not a current inventory or price check.
What the March 2025 report actually found
HotHardware’s March 28, 2025 report described ASUS ROG Astral LC GeForce RTX 5090 units remaining in stores longer than the author considered typical at Micro Center locations in Dallas and New Jersey. The report said the units eventually sold; at the New Jersey location, LC models sold after air-cooled models. Read the report.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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ASUS ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 OC Edition Quad Fan Graphics Card, 32GB GDDR7, 3352 AI Tops,... | $7,899.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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ASUS ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5080 16GB GDDR7 White OC Edition Graphics Card | $2,149.99 | Buy on Amazon |
This is an anecdotal observation about specific stores, not a nationwide inventory survey. HotHardware did not publish unit counts, sell-through data, or a survey showing how many gamers declined to buy the card. The headline’s suggestion that gamers rejected the price is therefore stronger than the evidence establishes.
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The $3,719 amount was a historical retail price reported in the 2025 story, not a current offer or a measured market average. The article’s detailed store account concerned the Astral LC, the liquid-cooled variant. It also said ASUS’s product page then listed that LC model at $3,409.99 while sold out. Those are separate reported prices and neither should be treated as a present-day quote.
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Why the LC model may have sold more slowly
HotHardware offered two possible explanations, rather than measured causes: the price could be high for gamers and risky for resellers, and the LC’s all-in-one liquid cooler needs space for a 360 mm radiator. That radiator may not fit in some PC cases. The report did not quantify the effect of either factor on sales.
For a potential buyer, this makes the specific model and case compatibility important. A 360 mm radiator requires a suitable mounting position and clearance in addition to space for the card itself. Check the exact case and graphics-card specifications before choosing the LC version.
Do not confuse the LC with the air-cooled Astral OC
ASUS’s ROG page describes the air-cooled ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 OC Edition as a 32GB GDDR7 card based on NVIDIA Blackwell with DLSS 4. ASUS lists four fans, a 3.8-slot form factor, an OC-mode clock of 2610 MHz, and a default-mode clock of 2580 MHz. These specifications belong to the OC air-cooled product page; they should not be assumed to describe the LC card. See ASUS’s ROG Astral OC product page.
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The two designs have different cooling and fit considerations: the OC page specifies a 3.8-slot air-cooled card, while the 2025 report calls out the LC model’s 360 mm radiator. Compare the exact SKU, price, cooling arrangement, and case clearances rather than relying on the Astral name alone.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the reported price compares with ASUS’s indexed US listings
ASUS US’s indexed listings showed $4,729.99 for the ROG Astral RTX 5090 32GB GDDR7 and $4,829.99 for the OC Edition. These are page-listed amounts observed in the source, not confirmed transaction prices or guarantees of stock. They differ from the 2025 report’s $3,719 historical price, and the listings identify different variants. Check ASUS US’s Astral RTX 5090 listing.
Prices and availability can change, and a listed price does not establish that a card is in stock or available at that amount from another seller. Verify the live listing, exact model, and availability before making a purchase decision.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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