Hey everyone Today, we're diving deep into the world of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090. Yes, we finally got our hands on this beast, and we're putting it through its paces in the latest games. We're talking DLSS 4 with multiframe generation, head-to-head comparisons with the RTX 4090, and everything in between. So, is this new flagship worth the hefty price tag? Let's find out!
RTX 5090: The Specs and the Sticker Shock
First things first, let's address the elephant in the room: the price. The RTX 5090 comes with an eye-watering $2,000 MSRP (and even more in Europe!). Ouch. For that kind of money, you're getting NVIDIA's new Blackwell architecture, 12,760 CUDA cores (that's a lot!), and 32GB of GDDR7 memory running on a super-wide 512-bit memory bus with a bandwidth of 1.78 terabytes per second. It also boasts PCI Express 5.0. But, hold on to your hats, because it also has a 575W TDP! You might need to upgrade your PSU and crank up the AC.
Impressively, despite that massive TDP, the 5090 stays relatively cool and quiet, even during intense gaming sessions. Kudos to the engineering team for that feat, especially considering the Founders Edition's small form factor.
Blackwell: Same Node, Limited Gains?
Here's the kicker: the RTX 5090 is still based on a 4nm node. This means we don't see the massive efficiency gains we might have hoped for. As a result, the 5090 offers only a 20-35% performance increase over the RTX 4090, depending on the game and settings. This is a bit disappointing, especially after initial claims of 2x performance gains, which were apparently tied to DLSS 4 frame generation.
DLSS 4: Multiframe Generation – The Game Changer?
Speaking of DLSS 4, its multiframe generation (aka "fake frames") is a key feature. It's launching with support for 75 games, which is a solid start. Initial impressions are positive! DLSS4 can provide a smoother and higher framerate experience, especially when combined with Ray Tracing.
While the 5090's raw performance jump isn't massive, don't underestimate its power. The 4090 is already a beast, and the 5090 is just... a bit more beastly.
Gaming Benchmarks: The Proof is in the Performance
Alright, let's get to the juicy stuff! Here are the results from our gaming benchmark tests. Keep in mind, these tests were performed on a system with a high-end CPU to avoid bottlenecks.
Cyberpunk 2077
We started with Cyberpunk 2077, a notoriously demanding title. We tested a variety of settings from Ultra, Raytracing and Path Tracing.
- 4K Ultra (No Ray Tracing, No DLSS): Significant performance boost over the 4090.
- 4K Ultra Ray Tracing (DLSS Quality, Ray Reconstruction): Gorgeous visuals with playable frame rates. The new DLSS Transformer model looks fantastic!
- 4K Path Tracing (DLSS Quality, 4x Frame Generation): Mind-blowing visuals and surprisingly smooth gameplay, thanks to DLSS 4. Input lag is manageable with a good baseline FPS.
- 4K Path Tracing (DLAA, No Frame Generation):Unplayable framerates for most players.
Key Takeaway: Cyberpunk 2077 really shines with the RTX 5090, especially when leveraging DLSS 4 and ray tracing.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Next up, Red Dead Redemption 2 at 4K native res, max settings (except MSAA). This game is beautiful and smooth.
- 4K Max Settings: Noticeable, but not huge, improvement over the RTX 4090, pushing average FPS above 100.
Key Takeaway: RDR2 is already well-optimized, so the 5090 provides a solid, but not revolutionary, upgrade.
Stalker 2
Stalker 2 was tested at 4K epic settings, DAA, and no frame generation.
- 4K Epic Settings: The RTX 5090 did not drop below 60 FPS at 4K native resolution.
- 4K Epic Settings, DLSS 2x Frame Generation The RTX 5090 was able to maintain a consistent 120 FPS.
Counter-Strike 2
Counter-Strike 2 was tested at 4K Very High settings, 4x MSAA
- 4K Max Settings: The RTX 5090 had no issues at all with maxed out settings.
Black Myth Wukong
Black Myth Wukong was tested at 4K Cinematics settings and dlss.
- 4K Cinematics Settings: No frame generation results in 69 FPS.
- 4K Cinematics Settings: DLSS Quality: Stays above 60 FPS.
- 4K Cinematics Settings: DLSS Quality, FG Stays above 100 FPS.
- 4K Path Tracing, DLSS Quality, FG Stays around 100 FPS.
Battlefield 2042
Battlefield 2042 was tested at 4k ultra settings native resolution.
- 4K Ultra Settings: The RTX 5090 provides 200 FPS.
Horizon Forbidden West
Horizon Forbidden West was tested at 4K with The highest settings, DLAA.
- 4K Max Settings: The RTX 5090 provides 150 FPS.
Call of Duty Black Ops 6
Call of Duty Black Ops 6 was tested at 4K with The extreme graphicss preset with NIS sharpening.
- 4K Max Settings: The RTX 5090 provides 150 FPS.
God of War Ragnarok
God of War Ragnarok was tested at 4K resolution using the laa and the ultra settings
- 4K Max Settings: The RTX 5090 provides 150 FPS.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was tested at 4K resolution using supreme settings.
- 4K Supreme Settings, Path Tracing: The RTX 5090 provides 30 - 40 FPS.
- 4K Supreme Settings, DLSS Quality: The RTX 5090 provides 60 FPS.
- 4K Supreme Settings, DLSS Quality, FG: The RTX 5090 provides 100 FPS.
Fortnite
Fortnite was tested at 4K dx12 and epic settings 100% resolution scale. Lumen is enabled
- 4K Epic Settings, Lumen: The RTX 5090 provides 80 FPS.
- 4K Epic Settings, Lumen DLSS Quality: The RTX 5090 provides 80 FPS.
- 4K Epic Settings, Lumen DLSS Performance: The RTX 5090 provides 100 FPS.
- 4K Epic Settings: DLSS Quality: The RTX 5090 provides 280 - 290 FPS.
Power Consumption and Temperatures
Let's talk power! The RTX 5090 is a power-hungry beast. During gaming, we saw power consumption consistently above 450W, sometimes hitting the 575W TDP limit. This card will definitely make a noticeable difference on your electricity bill. On the bright side, temperatures remained under control, and the card wasn't overly loud.
Is the RTX 5090 Worth It?
So, the big question: is the RTX 5090 worth the upgrade? Here's the breakdown:
- Raw Performance: The performance leap over the 4090 isn't mind-blowing, but it's definitely an upgrade.
- DLSS 4: Multiframe generation is impressive and improves the experience, but it's not a magic bullet. You still need a good baseline FPS.
- Value: The 5090 doesn't necessarily offer better value than the 4090 at its launch price. You're paying more for a moderate performance increase.
Ultimately, the decision depends on your budget and priorities. If you absolutely need the best of the best and want to experience DLSS 4, the 5090 is a solid choice. However, if you're on a tighter budget, the RTX 4090 remains a fantastic card, and the 5090 isn't necessarily a must-have upgrade. I think it would have been a better proposition if it was a bit cheaper but I know people will buy it anyways so there's that!
Thanks for reading this huge review! Stay tuned for more RTX 5090 content coming soon.
