Nvidia RTX 5090 Founders Edition: Comprehensive Review

Every couple of years, Nvidia introduces a game-changing graphics card that catapults PC gaming into a new era. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 is that card, yet its approach to delivering next-generation performance is anything but conventional. In many games, the performance increase over the RTX 4090 might not meet the lofty expectations set by previous generations, especially when you bypass Nvidia's DLSS Frame Generation. However, with the latest iteration of Nvidia's DLSS technology for both upscaling and frame generation, the RTX 5090 offers remarkable improvements in image quality and performance, surpassing what we typically see with a new graphics generation.

The extent of the upgrade the RTX 5090 offers depends significantly on the games you play, the resolution at which you play them, and your comfort with AI-generated frames. For most gamers using displays below 4K with a 240Hz refresh rate, the upgrade might not justify the cost. However, if you're equipped with a high-end display, the AI-generated frames provided by the RTX 5090 will feel like a glimpse into the future of gaming.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Photos

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RTX 5090 – Specs and Features

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 is built on Nvidia's high-end Blackwell architecture, which is already driving advanced AI models in data centers and supercomputers. This architecture hints at the RTX 5090's prowess in AI applications, but Nvidia hasn't overlooked traditional gaming performance either.

With the RTX 5090, Nvidia has increased the number of Streaming Multiprocessors (SMs) within the same Graphics Processing Clusters (GPCs), resulting in a 32% increase in CUDA cores—from 16,384 in the RTX 4090 to 21,760. This boost is the foundation of the RTX 5090's raw gaming performance.

Each SM is equipped with four Tensor Cores and one RT Core, matching the RTX 4090's configuration but with 680 Tensor Cores and 170 RT Cores, up from 512 and 128, respectively. The 5th-generation Tensor Cores enhance AI performance with added support for FP4 operations, reducing VRAM dependency.

The RTX 5090 features 32GB of GDDR7 VRAM, a step up from the RTX 4090's GDDR6X, promising faster and more power-efficient memory. Despite this, the RTX 5090 demands a hefty 575W of power, a significant jump from the RTX 4090's already high power consumption.

Nvidia has shifted the DLSS algorithm to a Transformer Neural Network (TNN) from a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), aiming to enhance image quality and reduce artifacts like ghosting. Moreover, the introduction of Multi-Frame Generation with DLSS 4 allows for the generation of multiple frames from each rendered image, significantly boosting frame rates for those already achieving decent performance.

Purchasing Guide

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 will be available starting January 30, with the Founders Edition priced at $1,999. Be aware that third-party models may cost significantly more.

The Founders Edition

The RTX 5090's power requirement of 575W necessitates advanced cooling solutions. Despite expectations of a larger design, Nvidia has managed to fit this powerful card into a dual-slot chassis with a dual-fan setup. During testing, the RTX 5090 reached temperatures up to 86°C, higher than the RTX 4090 but still within operational limits.

The RTX 5090's design includes a smaller PCB placed centrally, with fans on either side to efficiently expel heat through the top of the card. Aesthetically, it follows the design language of recent Nvidia generations, featuring a silver 'X' design and gunmetal-gray chassis, with a 'GeForce RTX' logo illuminated by white LEDs.

The RTX 5090 uses a new 12V-2x6 power connector, included with an adapter for four 8-pin PCIe connectors. The angled and more secure connector design simplifies installation and improves overall usability, allowing for easier integration into smaller PC builds.

DLSS 4: Fake Frames?

Nvidia claims the RTX 5090 can boost performance by up to 8x, primarily through its advanced frame generation capabilities rather than traditional rendering. DLSS 4 introduces Multi-Frame Generation, leveraging a new AI Management Processor (AMP) core to efficiently manage GPU tasks, traditionally handled by the CPU.

Courtesy of Nvidia

The AMP, combined with 5th-generation Tensor Cores, enables a new frame generation model that's 40% faster and uses 30% less memory than its predecessor. This model can generate three AI frames per rendered frame, with Nvidia's Flip Metering algorithm minimizing input lag.

For optimal performance, DLSS 4 should be enabled only when achieving at least 60 fps without frame generation. When the RTX 5090 launches, DLSS 4 will support a wide range of games, including beta versions of Cyberpunk 2077 and Star Wars Outlaws, where it significantly boosts frame rates.

In testing, Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K with the Ray Tracing Overdrive Preset and DLSS on Performance mode achieved 94 fps, which increased to 162 fps with DLSS 2x frame generation and soared to 286 fps with 4x frame generation. Similarly, Star Wars Outlaws at 4K with max settings reached around 300 fps with DLSS 4, up from 120 fps without frame generation.

While some might dismiss these high frame rates as 'Fake Frames,' they offer tangible benefits for gamers with high-refresh, high-resolution displays. Nvidia anticipates that 75 games will support DLSS 4 at launch, suggesting broad applicability and potential for further enhancements.

RTX 5090 – Performance

The RTX 5090 delivers a significant performance boost in synthetic benchmarks like 3DMark, with up to a 42% improvement over the RTX 4090. However, real-world gaming performance is more nuanced, often limited by CPU bottlenecks even with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

In games like Call of Duty Black Ops 6 and Cyberpunk 2077, the RTX 5090 shows only a 10% performance increase over the RTX 4090 at 4K, suggesting that current games may not fully utilize the RTX 5090's capabilities. In Metro Exodus: Enhanced Edition, the RTX 5090 achieves a 25% improvement over the RTX 4090, while in Red Dead Redemption 2, the increase is a modest 6%.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Benchmarks

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Total War: Warhammer 3, lacking ray tracing and upscaling support, demonstrates a 35% performance uplift with the RTX 5090 over the RTX 4090. However, Assassin's Creed Mirage showed unexpected performance issues, likely due to a driver bug.

Black Myth: Wukong and Forza Horizon 5 showed performance uplifts of 20% and negligible differences, respectively, highlighting the variability in real-world gaming performance.

Nvidia's focus on AI-driven gaming with the RTX 5090 positions it as a forward-looking investment, particularly for those on the cutting edge of technology. While it may not offer a significant leap in performance over the RTX 4090 in current games, its capabilities are poised to shine with future titles and advancements in AI technology.