Every couple of years, Nvidia unveils a powerhouse graphics card—an exorbitantly priced marvel that catapults PC gaming into a new era. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 is precisely that, though its approach to next-generation performance is decidedly unconventional. In many games, the performance leap over the RTX 4090 isn't as dramatic as anticipated, especially without DLSS Frame Generation. However, the next generation of Nvidia's DLSS, encompassing both upscaling and frame generation, delivers astonishing improvements in image quality and performance—a leap even surpassing typical generational advancements.
The RTX 5090's upgrade value hinges on your gaming habits: the games you play, your monitor's resolution and refresh rate, and your tolerance for AI-generated frames. For those gaming on anything less than a 4K, 240Hz monitor, this upgrade is likely unnecessary. But for high-end display owners, the AI-generated frames offer a tantalizing glimpse into the future of gaming.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Photos
RTX 5090 – Specs and Features
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 leverages Blackwell, Nvidia's high-end architecture powering data centers and supercomputers behind many popular AI models. This hints at the RTX 5090's strengths, but Nvidia hasn't neglected non-AI aspects.
Nvidia has managed to pack more Streaming Multiprocessors (SMs) into the same number of GPCs (Graphics Processing Clusters), resulting in a significant increase in CUDA cores—21,760, a 32% jump from the RTX 4090's 16,384. This substantial increase in shader cores fuels much of the raw gaming performance boost.
Each SM retains four Tensor Cores and one RT Core, mirroring its predecessor. This translates to 680 Tensor Cores and 170 RT cores, compared to the RTX 4090's 512 and 128, respectively. The 5th-generation Tensor Cores are optimized for AI performance, now supporting FP4 operations, reducing VRAM dependency for AI workloads.
This powerful silicon is paired with 32GB of GDDR7 VRAM, a generational leap from the RTX 4090's GDDR6X memory, promising faster speeds and improved power efficiency. However, the RTX 5090's staggering 575W power requirement (a significant increase over the 4090's 450W) indicates power efficiency isn't a primary design goal.
The enhanced efficiency of the new Tensor Cores enabled Nvidia to shift the entire DLSS algorithm to a Transformer Neural Network (TNN), replacing the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). While this change doesn't necessarily boost framerates with DLSS enabled, Nvidia claims improved image quality and reduced artifacts like ghosting.
Beyond the internal DLSS improvements, Nvidia introduces Multi-Frame Generation. Building upon the RTX 4090's Frame Gen technology, it's more efficient and smoother, generating multiple frames from each rendered image. This dramatically increases frame rates but, like its predecessor, is best used when a decent base frame rate is already achieved.
Purchasing Guide
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 launched January 30th, starting at $1,999 (Founders Edition). Third-party cards are expected to be significantly more expensive.
The Founders Edition
The RTX 5090's 575W power draw surpasses the RTX 4090's 450W, leading to increased heat generation and demanding cooling solutions. Previous Founders Editions were bulky, triple-slot cards. Surprisingly, the RTX 5090 is smaller, fitting within a dual-slot chassis with a dual-fan configuration.
During testing (including standard benchmarks and games with DLSS 4 and multi-frame generation), temperatures peaked around 86°C at 578W power consumption. While high (higher than the RTX 4090's 80°C), it remained below throttling thresholds.
Nvidia achieved this compact design by centralizing the PCB (printed circuit board) and employing a heatsink spanning the card's width, with fans drawing air from the bottom and expelling it through the top. Unlike previous generations, there are no exhaust vents under the rear output ports.
The design maintains a similar aesthetic to previous generations, featuring a silver 'X' design and a 'GeForce RTX' logo with white LEDs.
The power connector, while visually similar to the 12VHPWR connector, is a new 12V-2x6 connector, claimed to be more efficient. An included adapter uses four 8-pin PCIe power connectors to deliver the required 575W. The angled connector on the card simplifies cable connection.
This design allows compatibility with smaller PC builds, unlike previous high-end cards. However, third-party designs will likely be larger.
DLSS 4: Fake Frames?
Nvidia initially claimed up to 8x performance boosts. While not reaching that level, the RTX 5090 delivers exceptionally high frame rates in demanding games, primarily through frame generation. While raw rasterization performance improves, the real next-gen benefit lies in its frame generation capabilities.
DLSS 4's Multi-Frame Generation builds upon DLSS 3's Frame Generation, enhancing efficiency and smoothness to generate multiple frames per rendered image. This is facilitated by a new AI Management Processor (AMP) core, offloading work traditionally handled by the CPU to the GPU for increased efficiency.
Nvidia states that the AMP and 5th-generation Tensor Cores enable a 40% faster frame generation model using 30% less memory, generating 3 AI frames per rendered frame. A Flip Metering algorithm mitigates latency. This new model's GPU-based frame pacing is cited as the reason it's incompatible with RTX 4000 cards.
This isn't a magic bullet; it's most effective with already acceptable frame rates (around 60fps without Frame Gen). Enabling it with low frame rates can cause significant latency. Pairing it with DLSS upscaling maximizes performance.
At launch, DLSS 4 supported many games with DLSS 3 Frame Generation. Testing was limited to beta builds of Cyberpunk 2077 and Star Wars Outlaws.
In Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K with Ray Tracing Overdrive and DLSS Performance, the RTX 5090 achieved 94fps. DLSS 2x frame generation increased this to 162fps, and 4x frame generation reached 286fps (exceeding the display's capabilities). Similar results were seen in Star Wars Outlaws, reaching around 300fps with DLSS 4.
While Multi-Frame Generation might seem like "fake frames," it's surprisingly effective with high-end displays, though testing was limited. Nvidia claims 75 games will support DLSS 4 at launch, but flawless performance across all titles isn't guaranteed.
RTX 5090 – Performance
The RTX 5090 is incredibly powerful, but testing presented challenges. 3DMark showed a generational improvement over the RTX 4090, but game testing revealed CPU bottlenecks, even at 4K, when paired with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D. For many with high-end cards, the upgrade's impact is limited; games haven't fully caught up. It's a card for future-proofing, preparing for titles like The Witcher 4.
DLSS 4 was disabled in comparative benchmarks, using public drivers (Nvidia 566.36, AMD Adrenalin 24.12.1). Games were tested on their latest public builds.
Test System:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
- Motherboard: Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Hero
- RAM: 32GB G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo @ 6,000MHz
- SSD: 4TB Samsung 990 Pro
- CPU Cooler: Asus ROG Ryujin III 360
In 3DMark, the RTX 5090 was up to 42% faster than the RTX 4090 (Speed Way: 14,399 vs 10,130; Port Royal: 36,946 vs 25,997). Compared to the RTX 3090, the performance jump was 2.5x.
However, game testing revealed CPU bottlenecks. In Call of Duty Black Ops 6 at 4K Extreme with DLSS Performance, the RTX 5090 achieved 161fps (a mere 10% increase over the RTX 4090's 146fps). Similar results were seen in Cyberpunk 2077 (125fps vs 112fps). Lower resolutions showed even less improvement.
Metro Exodus: Enhanced Edition (DLSS disabled) showed a 25% improvement over the RTX 4090 at 4K Extreme. Red Dead Redemption 2 showed only a 6% improvement at 4K max settings with DLSS Performance.
Total War: Warhammer 3 (no ray tracing or upscaling) showed a 35% performance uplift (147fps vs 107fps). Assassin's Creed Mirage showed lower performance than the RTX 4090, likely a driver issue.
Black Myth: Wukong showed a 20% improvement at 4K with the Cinematic Preset and DLSS 40%. Forza Horizon 5 showed negligible differences.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Benchmarks
While the RTX 5090 is the fastest consumer graphics card, many games don't fully utilize its power. This will change over time, but current owners of RTX 4090 may find little reason to upgrade. The RTX 5090's success hinges on the future of AI-powered gaming. DLSS 4's frame rate increases are impressive, making it ideal for cutting-edge gamers willing to invest in an AI-driven future. For others, the RTX 4090 remains a powerful option for years to come.
