A Founders Edition is NVIDIA's own version of a graphics card, sold at the official launch price. A partner card is the same chip built by a company like ASUS, MSI or Gigabyte, usually with a bigger cooler and a higher price. In 2026 the Founders Edition is the cheapest way to get a given card, which is exactly why it is the hardest to buy.
Founders Edition vs partner cards
| Founders Edition | Partner cards | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | NVIDIA | ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, Zotac and others |
| Price | Launch MSRP (RTX 5090: $1,999) | Often well above MSRP |
| Where sold in the US | Best Buy and NVIDIA's own programs | Most retailers |
| Availability | Rare, short drops | More often in stock, at a premium |
How to get one
- Best Buy drops. Founders Edition restocks at Best Buy are short and unannounced. See how Best Buy restocks work.
- NVIDIA Verified Priority Access. In February 2025 NVIDIA revived a program that lets selected buyers purchase one RTX 5090 or 5080 Founders Edition at MSRP. It was open to US residents with an NVIDIA account created on or before January 30, 2025, and selection criteria were not published (HotHardware).
Is it worth holding out for one?
If the goal is the lowest price for a specific card, yes: every partner model of the same chip costs more right now. If you need a card soon, a partner card or a lower tier at a fair price may be the better trade. Our GPU price guide shows how far each card sits above its MSRP today.
One caution: as of March 2026, the RTX 5090 Founders Edition had been removed from Best Buy's site, with NVIDIA saying it would return without a date (StockMaid).