Before EVGA permanently withdrew from the graphics card game (opens in new tab), the company was hard at work prototyping the next generation of GPUs for Nvidia's RTX 40 series. One of these prototypes, a working RTX 4090 (opens in new tab), is currently being bid on by users on the EVGA Forum (opens in new tab) for over $9,000 to secure a piece of graphics card history.

Named simply "Next Gen Graphics," this GPU, with its title on its side, is not much to look at. It has no other designation or model code, but looks somewhat like EVGA's FTW3 model graphics card with its offset triple-fan cooler and massive heatsink. While it lacks the glitz and glamour one would expect from a shipping version, it seems destined to become the blueprint for a card that was once that model.

Instead, due to its rarity - this is probably the last graphics card EVGA will design - this most limited and limited edition GPU is currently selling for $9,500 (open in new tab).

The card will likely fetch a much higher price when the auction closes on December 16 at 11:59 a.m. PT; EVGA had previously listed the card multiple times on eBay before running the auction forum, and before these listings were withdrawn the price was soared to $13,200 (via Tom's Hardware (opens in new tab)). This was due to the new account status in EVGA's marketplace, which is why the company used its own forum for the actual auction.

This is all for a good cause: EVGA will donate the entire amount to Memphis, Tennessee-based St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (opens in new tab) without taking any cash.

This is one graphics card we don't mind overpaying for.

EVGA has confirmed that this card is fully functional, not overclocked, and has a 600W maximum power limit in the secondary BIOS. However, there is no warranty on this card and there are no refunds.