If you're the kind of person who gets excited about pushing pixels at insane frame rates or squeezing every ounce of performance out of your rig, then the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is probably already on your radar. As NVIDIA’s latest flagship GPU, it’s built to blow past what we thought was possible in both gaming and creative workloads.
With a jaw-dropping price tag, it’s definitely not for the faint of heart. But for serious enthusiasts and professionals, the power packed into this card might just be worth every penny.
Specifications
- CUDA Cores: 21,760
- VRAM: 32 GB GDDR7
- Base Clock: 1.8 GHz
- Boost Clock: 2.4 GHz
- TDP: 575 watts
- Architecture: Blackwell
Design and Build
The RTX 5090 introduces a redesigned Founders Edition featuring a compact two-slot design, making it suitable for small form factor (SFF) PCs. This is a notable departure from the bulkier designs of previous high-end GPUs. The cooling system has been reengineered to accommodate this smaller footprint without compromising thermal performance.
Performance
In 4K gaming, the RTX 5090 delivers exceptional performance, often doubling frame rates compared to its predecessors. For instance, in "Cyberpunk 2077," the card achieves an average of 95 FPS, with 1% lows at 81 FPS and 0.1% lows at 77 FPS, showcasing its ability to handle demanding titles with ease.
However, at 1440p resolution, the performance gains over the RTX 4090 are less pronounced, indicating that the RTX 5090's advantages are most evident in high-resolution scenarios.
DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation
A standout feature of the RTX 5090 is NVIDIA's DLSS 4 technology, which introduces Multi Frame Generation. This AI-driven feature can significantly boost frame rates by generating additional frames, leading to performance improvements of up to 8x in certain scenarios. While this results in smoother gameplay, some users have reported occasional visual artifacts, suggesting that the technology may benefit from further refinement.
Power Consumption and Cooling
With a thermal design power (TDP) of 575 watts, the RTX 5090 demands a robust power supply, with recommendations ranging from 1,000 to 1,200 watts to ensure system stability. During testing, the card maintained temperatures around 72°C under load, indicating effective thermal management despite its high power consumption.
Compatibility and System Requirements
Integrating the RTX 5090 into an existing system requires careful consideration of power supply capacity and physical space within the case. Its compact design facilitates installation in smaller cases, but the substantial power draw necessitates high-quality power delivery components to ensure optimal performance and longevity.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Exceptional 4K gaming performance
- Innovative DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation
- Compact design suitable for SFF builds
- Advanced cooling system
Cons:
- High power consumption requires substantial power supply
- Premium price point may be prohibitive for some users
- Performance gains at lower resolutions are modest
- Potential visual artifacts with AI-generated frames
Rating
Considering its groundbreaking performance, innovative features, and associated costs, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 earns a rating of 4.5 out of 5. It sets a new benchmark for high-end graphics cards, though its benefits are most pronounced for users equipped to leverage its full capabilities.