Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition Review

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090: A Next-Gen Leap Forward, But For Whom?

Nvidia's latest flagship, the RTX 5090, promises a generational leap in PC gaming performance. However, the reality is more nuanced. While raw power surpasses its predecessor, the RTX 4090, the performance gains in many current games aren't as dramatic as expected, especially without DLSS Frame Generation. The true revolution lies in the advancements of DLSS 4, specifically Multi-Frame Generation.

The upgrade's value hinges on your gaming setup and preferences. For those with sub-4K displays or refresh rates below 240Hz, the upgrade is unlikely to justify the cost. However, for high-end 4K, high-refresh-rate users, DLSS 4's AI-generated frames offer a glimpse into the future of gaming smoothness.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Image Gallery

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RTX 5090 – Specifications and Features

Built on 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. Each Streaming Multiprocessor (SM) includes four Tensor Cores and one RT Core, enhancing AI and ray tracing capabilities. The 5th-generation Tensor Cores support FP4 operations, reducing VRAM dependency in AI workloads.

The card features 32GB of GDDR7 VRAM, a generational upgrade offering improved speed and power efficiency compared to GDDR6X. However, its 575W power requirement significantly increases power consumption.

DLSS 4's shift to a Transformer Neural Network (TNN) from a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) aims to improve image quality and reduce artifacts. Multi-Frame Generation, an evolution of DLSS 3's Frame Generation, generates multiple frames from each rendered image, leading to substantial frame rate increases, but ideally only when a sufficient base frame rate is already achieved.

Purchasing Guide

The RTX 5090 launched January 30th at $1,999 (Founders Edition). Third-party models are expected to command higher prices.

The Founders Edition

Despite its 575W power draw, the RTX 5090 Founders Edition surprisingly adopts a smaller, dual-slot design with dual fans. Temperatures peaked around 86°C during testing, not high enough to cause throttling. This compact design is achieved through a centrally positioned PCB, with fans drawing air from the bottom and exhausting it through the top. The power connector is a new, angled 12V-2x6 connector, aiming for improved efficiency and easier cable management. An included adapter converts four 8-pin PCIe power connectors to the 12V-2x6.

DLSS 4: Beyond "Fake Frames"?

While the RTX 5090 offers a performance boost through raw rasterization, DLSS 4's Multi-Frame Generation is the key differentiator. A new AI Management Processor (AMP) core efficiently manages workload distribution across the GPU, enabling faster and more memory-efficient frame generation. The AMP's Flip Metering algorithm minimizes input lag. While initially tested in beta builds of Cyberpunk 2077 and Star Wars Outlaws, the results were impressive, with significant frame rate increases at 4K with minimal artifacts. DLSS 4 support will extend to 75 games at launch.

RTX 5090 – Performance Benchmarks

Benchmarking revealed a generational leap in 3DMark, with up to a 42% performance increase over the RTX 4090. However, real-world gaming performance showed a more limited advantage, often hampered by CPU bottlenecks even at 4K with a high-end CPU (Ryzen 7 9800X3D). In many titles, the performance uplift over the RTX 4090 was modest (around 10%), although improvements over the RTX 3090 were substantial. Exceptions included games like Metro Exodus: Enhanced Edition and Total War: Warhammer 3, where the RTX 5090 demonstrated more significant gains. One outlier was Assassin's Creed Mirage, which exhibited performance issues potentially related to driver bugs.

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Conclusion

The RTX 5090 is undeniably the fastest consumer graphics card available, but its performance gains over the RTX 4090 are not universally transformative in current games. Its true strength lies in DLSS 4's Multi-Frame Generation, offering a significant boost for high-end 4K displays. While a worthwhile upgrade for those seeking cutting-edge technology and willing to invest in an AI-driven gaming future, for most gamers, the RTX 4090 remains a powerful and cost-effective option.