NVIDIA Unveils Advanced RTX 5090 Founders Edition GPU

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090: A Next-Gen Leap Fueled by AI

Nvidia's RTX 5090 arrives as the latest high-end graphics card, promising a new era in PC gaming. However, its performance gains aren't uniformly impressive across all titles. While raw performance improvements over the RTX 4090 are noticeable, particularly in benchmarks, the real generational leap comes from DLSS 4.

The upgrade's value depends heavily on your gaming setup and preferences for AI-assisted frame generation. For those with 4K monitors and 240Hz refresh rates, DLSS 4's Multi-Frame Generation offers a significant performance boost, creating a smoother, higher frame rate experience. However, for users with lower-end displays, the upgrade may not justify the considerable cost.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Image Gallery

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RTX 5090 – Specifications and Features

Built on Nvidia's Blackwell architecture, the RTX 5090 boasts a significant increase in CUDA cores (21,760 vs. 16,384 in the RTX 4090), resulting in a 32% boost in shader cores. This, combined with enhanced 5th-generation Tensor Cores (680 vs. 512) and RT Cores (170 vs. 128), contributes to raw performance improvements. The inclusion of 32GB GDDR7 VRAM represents a generational upgrade in memory technology.

The shift to a Transformer Neural Network (TNN) for DLSS, instead of a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), aims to enhance image quality and reduce artifacts. Multi-Frame Generation, an evolution of DLSS 3's Frame Generation, allows the generation of multiple frames from a single rendered image, dramatically increasing frame rates but requiring sufficient baseline performance to avoid latency issues.

Purchasing Information

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 launched on January 30th, with a starting price of $1,999 for the Founders Edition. Third-party models may command significantly higher prices.

Founders Edition Analysis

Despite its 575W power consumption (a substantial increase over the RTX 4090's 450W), Nvidia has managed to create a surprisingly compact dual-slot design. While temperatures reach 86°C under load, this remains below the throttling threshold. The innovative PCB placement and dual-fan configuration contribute to this efficient cooling. The power connector has been redesigned to a more secure and efficient 12V-2x6 configuration.

DLSS 4: Addressing the "Fake Frames" Concern

While the RTX 5090's performance gains in some games are modest without DLSS 4, the Multi-Frame Generation technology significantly boosts frame rates. The new AI Management Processor (AMP) core, working in conjunction with the 5th-generation Tensor Cores, enables a more efficient frame generation process. A Flip Metering algorithm minimizes input lag, a significant improvement over the CPU-reliant frame pacing of previous generations. While effective in tested titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Star Wars Outlaws, optimal performance requires a high-end 4K display and a solid baseline frame rate.

Performance Benchmarks

Benchmark results vary significantly depending on the game and settings. While 3DMark shows a substantial performance increase (up to 42% over the RTX 4090), real-world gaming performance is often limited by CPU bottlenecks, especially at 4K resolution. Games like Call of Duty Black Ops 6 and Cyberpunk 2077 demonstrate relatively modest performance gains over the RTX 4090. Metro Exodus: Enhanced Edition and Total War: Warhammer 3 show more significant improvements, highlighting the RTX 5090's raw power. Anomalous results were observed in Assassin's Creed Mirage, potentially due to driver issues.

Benchmark Data Visualization

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Conclusion

The RTX 5090 is undeniably powerful, currently holding the title of the fastest consumer graphics card. However, its performance gains over the RTX 4090 are often less dramatic than expected in many current games due to CPU bottlenecks. The card's true strength lies in its DLSS 4 capabilities, particularly Multi-Frame Generation, which delivers impressive frame rate increases for high-end displays. While a significant investment, the RTX 5090 is a future-proof choice for those prioritizing cutting-edge AI-enhanced gaming experiences. For most users, the RTX 4090 remains a highly capable option.

Which new graphics card are you planning to buy?