Forget Gold, Galax Is Bedazzling An RTX 5090 HOF With Swarovski Crystals

Galax is busting out the Swarovski crystals for its next Hall of Fame (HOF) edition GeForce RTX 5090, proving that even in these wild times that have seen PC component prices shoot through the roof, companies are still all about the extravagance. That said, it probably won't reach a valuation anywhere close to the ASUS ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 Gold Edition that's decked out with around 5 kilograms of 24K gold.

At today's rate, 5 kilograms of 24K gold is worth around $665,550, up from around $540,000 when the card broke cover last year. And speaking of ROG Astral cards, a White OC Edition model signed by NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang recently fetched $11,700 at auction, which is probably a more realistic target for Galax's upcoming HOF card.

Galax has been teasing the crystalized GPU on Weibo, saying it intends to formally introduce the card on Thursday.

"Two days left until the new product. See you Thursday in the darkness, a silhouette slowly outlined by a light strip—not loud, not ostentatious, but you will recognize it at first sight. The last time it appeared, it was still defining what a 'white flagship' was; this time, it returns with the all-new Aurora MAX lighting effects: the Faith Crown light strip lights up, supports 5V ARGB synchronization with the motherboard lighting effects, and can also be adjusted at will through the new generation HOF Panel software. The moment the lights came on, a coronation ceremony took place inside the chassis. Some kings deserve to be foreseen." - Galax on Weibo

There is also a poster making the rounds, which promises that the card's appearance will make "all other whites look dull" by comparison. However, it's the Swarovski crystals that set it apart from other GeForce RTX 5090 models, including luxury-themed ones.

Galax actually showcased a crystalized HOF card at Computex earlier this year. Built for "overclocking enthusiasts and hardcore gamers," HOF cards typically feature high-end components and robust cooling. In this case, the card is also expected to feature dual 12V-2x6 power connectors. It remains to be seen if the aesthetic of the final product matches the earlier showcase.

The timing of the release is interesting too, and for multiple reasons. For one, graphics card pricing has exploded over the past year, especially at the high end where supply is especially scarce (relative to demand). To wit, not a single GeForce RTX 5090 model is in stock at Best Buy currently, and many of the partner models show pricing in the $4,500 to $5,500 range, with one model (Zotac) topping out at over $9,300.

Secondly, it was rumored NVIDIA had effectively phased out the GeForce RTX 5090, choosing instead to allocate its GB202 silicon to more lucrative markets. NVIDIA denied the claim, saying that while supply is "somewhat constrained" at the moment, the GeForce RTX 5090 "has certainly not been discontinued."