Compare RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090 in terms of specs, price, and performance. Find out which vehicle GPU you need!
Choosing the right graphics card is important in any technology field, but particularly in gaming and creative tasks. The RTX 5090 and RTX 4090 are two contenders that have people talking—tech enthusiasts and buyers alike. The RTX 5090 vs. RTX 4090 is not just about raw power; it’s about specifications, performance metrics, pricing, and more. The gaming landscape is always changing, and it’s important to get the right GPU to maximize your output, whether that’s high-resolution gaming, intensive graphic design, or running complex simulations. The RTX 5090 and RTX 4090 are in the spotlight, and in this article, we will dive deep into the specs, performance, and other important features to help readers make an informed choice.
Brief Overview of RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090
The RTX 5090 and RTX 4090 represent the cutting edge of GPU technology, continuing the search for ever-increasing frame rates, improved visual fidelity, and enhanced multitasking capability. The cards are both designed for people who want the best of the best. The improvements promised include speed, efficiency, and usability. But the choice of which graphics card to pick depends heavily on particular needs, budget limitations, and use cases. For this reason, anyone looking to upgrade or invest in a new GPU needs to understand the nuances between the RTX 5090 and RTX 4090.
RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090 Specs Compared
To compare the specs of the RTX 5090 and RTX 4090, we need to look at the nitty-gritty of what makes these two cards so different. The RTX 5090 has 32GB of the latest GDDR7 VRAM and a CUDA core count of 21,760. It also sports a host of advanced cooling solutions that should work fine for Nvidia’s premium GPU. Heavy loads are what the RTX 5090 is capable of handling with these specifications and much more. Meanwhile, the RTX 4090 comes with 16,384 CUDA cores and 24GB of GDDR6X memory, in addition to speeds comparable to the RTX 5090.
What really sets them apart is that the RTX 5090 supports the latest technologies, including DLSS 4, Multi-Frame Gen, Nvidia Reflex 2, and AI-enhanced rendering. Meanwhile, the RTX 4090 supports DLSS 3.5, traditional Frame Gen, and Nvidia Reflex. How this translates to raw performance data is yet to be seen. As such, comparing the raw specifications gives us an understanding of their potential performance in real-world applications. In terms of raw and native performance, the speculated data indicates that the RTX 5090 outperforms the RTX 4090 by about 20-30%.
Specification | RTX 5090 | RTX 4090 |
Architecture | Blackwell | Ada Lovelace |
Core Count | 21760 | 16384 |
Tensor Cores (AI) | 5th Generation, 3352 AI TOPS | 4th Generation, 1321 AI TOPS |
Ray Tracing Cores | 4th Generation, 318 TFLOPS | 3rd Generation, 191 TFLOPS |
VRAM | 32 GB GDDR7 | 24 GB GDDR6X |
Memory Interface Width | 512-bit | 384-bit |
Base Clock Speed | 2.01 GHz | 2.23 GHz |
Boost Clock Speed | 2.41 GHz | 2.52 GHz |
PCIE Generation | PCI Express Gen 5 | PCI Express Gen 4 |
Deep Learning Super Sampling | DLSS 4 | DLSS 3 |
NVIDIA Reflex | Reflex 2 | Reflex |
TGP (W) | 575 Watts | 450 Watts |
RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090 Performance Comparison
This section will be updated as soon as information on the RTX 5090 performance and benchmark data is available. Make sure to revisit this post for details on that.
RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090 Price Compared
When choosing a GPU, price is usually the deciding factor. The RTX 5090 is priced at $1,999 because it is equipped with the best features and highest performance you can find. By Nvidia’s standards, this is a flagship GPU price point. While still a high-end card, the RTX 4090 is priced a bit lower at $1,599 for the Founders Edition. That is because it is a predecessor to the RTX 5090. Being cheaper than the RTX 5090, it’s an excellent option for users that require a powerful GPU but don’t have a $2,000 budget.
Buying a card is a big decision, so you need to weigh the performance and capability against your budget and what you’re using it for.
Pros and Cons of RTX 5090 and RTX 4090
Let us now go over the pros and cons for both GPU contenders, the RTX 5090 and RTX 4090.
Pros and Cons of RTX 5090
Pros | Cons |
Supports the latest technology and features like DLSS 4, Multi-Frame Gen and Reflex 2. | Extremely expensive. |
Supports the latest technology and features like DLSS 4, Multi-Frame Gen, and Reflex 2. | Power consumption can be significant (TGP is 600W), requiring a robust PSU. |
Enhanced cooling mechanisms lead to better thermal management. |
Pros and Cons of RTX 4090
Pros | Cons |
Excellent performance for most users at the highest settings. | Lacks future proofing with the introduction of DLSS 4 and Reflex 2. |
Good balance between performance and power efficiency. | It may be a better idea to go for an RTX 5080 instead, which is cheaper. |
Requires less power to function than the RTX 5090. |
Final Verdict: Which Is Best Between RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090 for You?
With the launch of the RTX 50 Series, it makes people question if the RTX 40 Series is even a serious contender anymore. Certainly, a case can be made that the RTX 4090 is still a very powerful and capable GPU, available at a price lower than the RTX 5090. However, at that point, it seems wiser to go for an RTX 5080, priced at $999 and which will certainly perform comparably or even better than the RTX 4090. At this point, with the information available, the clear winner is the RTX 5090. With the latest features and technology, it surpasses the RTX 4090 in terms of performance at a justifiably higher price.
FAQs About RTX 5090 and RTX 4090
Is the RTX 5090 Worth the Extra Money?
If high-end gaming or professional-grade rendering is your goal, the 5090 is an invaluable investment.
Can I Use the RTX 4090 for 4K Gaming?
Yes, the 4090 can handle 4K gaming; just expect slightly lower frame rates on ultra settings compared to the 5090.
Which Card Is More Power-Efficient Between RTX 5090 and RTX 4090?
The RTX 4090 tends to be more power-efficient, but it still requires a decent PSU. This is speculated based on the fact that it has a lower TGP. However, once benchmarks on the RTX 5090 are available, we will be able to provide a more accurate answer to this question. It is certainly possible that Nvidia cooked up some magic to make the RTX 5090 more power-efficient than its predecessor, even though it has a TGP of 600W.
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