NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 (2025)

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 (2025) is generating significant hype due to its groundbreaking performance and advanced features. It is expected to be the most powerful GPU in the market, designed for high-end gaming, professional workloads, and AI development.

💥Early benchmarks are showing the RTX 5090 delivering a 20-30% performance improvement over its predecessor, the RTX 4090, in various games and applications.

Compatibility:

The RTX 5090 is compatible with PCIe 5.0 slots, ensuring it works with the latest motherboards. It supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan, and OpenGL 4.6, making it suitable for a wide range of applications and games.

It’s set to support a range of resolutions, including 1920×1080, 2560×1440 and 3840×2160. This powerful GPU will feature 32 GB of GDDR7 memory and a 512-bit memory bus, ensuring high performance for gaming and other graphics-intensive tasks.

External Connectivity: Supports the latest display standards and interfaces.

1. DisplayPort 2.1b: Three DisplayPort 2.1b ports, which support higher resolutions and refresh rates, making them ideal for gaming and professional displays.
2. HDMI 2.1b: One HDMI 2.1b port, providing compatibility with the latest TVs and monitors, supporting features like 4K at 120Hz and 8K at 60Hz.
3. USB-C VirtualLink: A USB-C VirtualLink port for VR headsets, offering a single-cable solution for power, video, and data.

Approximate Cost:

The RTX 5090 is expected to be priced around $2,000, reflecting its high-end specifications and performance capabilities.

Reasons to Buy:

1. Unmatched Performance: With 21,760 shader units (also known as CUDA cores) and 32GB of GDDR7 (Graphics Double Data Rate 7) memory, it offers unparalleled performance.
   • CUDA cores are responsible for executing the complex calculations required for rendering graphics, running simulations, and performing other parallel processing tasks. The high number of shader units allows the RTX 5090 to handle demanding workloads with ease, providing smooth and efficient performance for both gaming and professional applications.
   • GDDR7 memory starts at speeds of 32 GT/s (giga-transfers per second), which is 60% higher than the fastest GDDR6 memory and 33% higher than the fastest GDDR6X memory.
2. Fourth-Generation Ray Tracing Cores: Equipped with fourth-generation Ray Tracing (RT) Cores, which provide improved performance and efficiency in rendering realistic lighting and shadows.
   • Realistic Lighting and Shadows: Ray tracing simulates the physical behavior of light, allowing for more accurate and lifelike lighting effects. This includes realistic shadows that dynamically change based on the light source and environment.
   • Enhanced Reflections and Refractions: The technology also enhances reflections and refractions, making surfaces like water, glass, and metal look more realistic. This adds depth and immersion to the visual experience.
   • Neural Rendering: The RTX 5090 introduces neural rendering, which leverages AI to further enhance the quality and performance of ray tracing. This technology helps in achieving cinematic-quality visuals at unprecedented speeds.
   • Support for Ray-Traced Games and Applications: Over 700 games and applications now support ray tracing, allowing users to experience the full potential of the RTX 5090’s capabilities.
3. AI Enhancements: Improved AI processing for better performance in AI-driven applications.
   • DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation: The latest version of NVIDIA’s Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) technology uses AI to insert three AI-generated frames for every one real frame, significantly boosting frame rates and improving image quality
   • Advanced AI Overclocking: Uses AI to dynamically overclock the GPU for maximum performance without compromising stability.
4. Multi-Monitor & High Frame Rates Support: Excellent for 4K and 8K gaming at high frame rates.
5. VR Ready: Optimized for virtual reality experiences.
6. Dynamic Power Management: Automatically adjusts power consumption based on workload to optimize efficiency.
7. Integrated Tensor Cores: Enhanced tensor cores for improved AI and deep learning performance.
8. Customizable RGB Lighting: Built-in RGB lighting that can be customized through NVIDIA software.
9. Enhanced Security Features: Includes hardware-based security features to protect against cyber threats.
10. Future-Proof: Designed to handle future gaming and professional workloads.

Reasons to be aware of:

1. Power Consumption: The 600W TGP requires a robust power supply and cooling system.
2. Size: Its large size may not fit in all PC cases. The RTX 5090 measures 304 mm x 137 mm x 48 mm (approximately 12 inches x 5.4 inches x 1.9 inches), which may not fit in all PC cases.
3. Availability: High demand may lead to limited availability and potential price hikes.

Competitor Comparisons:

1. AMD Radeon RX 8900 XT: The RX 8900 XT is AMD’s flagship GPU, offering competitive performance with 16,384 shader units and 24GB of GDDR7 memory. While it excels in gaming and professional tasks, it falls short of the RTX 5090’s raw power and advanced ray tracing capabilities. The RX 8900 XT is more power-efficient, with a TGP of 450W, and is priced around $1,500, making it a more affordable option.
2. Intel Arc Battlemage BMG-1: Intel’s high-end GPU features 18,000 shader units and 28GB of GDDR7 memory. It offers strong performance in gaming and AI applications but lacks the extensive software ecosystem and driver support of NVIDIA. The Arc Battlemage BMG-1 is priced at approximately $1,800, making it a competitive alternative for those looking for a balance between performance and cost.
3. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Ti: The RTX 4080 Ti is a step below the RTX 5090, with 10,752 shader units and 16GB of GDDR7 memory. It provides excellent performance for 4K gaming and professional workloads but does not match the RTX 5090’s capabilities. The RTX 4080 Ti is more power-efficient with a TGP of 400W and is priced around $1,200, making it a more accessible option for high-end users.

Bottom Line:

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 (2025) is poised to be a game-changer in the GPU market. With its 21,760 shader units, 32GB of GDDR7 memory, and a 512-bit memory bus, it promises to deliver unprecedented performance. The GPU is built on the new Blackwell architecture, which enhances efficiency and performance. It excels in 4K and 8K gaming, providing smooth frame rates and stunning visuals. The advanced ray tracing and AI capabilities make it ideal for both gaming and professional applications. However, its 600W power consumption requires a robust cooling solution and a powerful PSU. The high price point of around $2,000 may be a barrier for some, but for those seeking the best performance, the RTX 5090 is unmatched. Overall, it is a top-tier GPU that sets a new standard in the industry.

Online Retailers

• • NVIDIA Official Store: Purchase the Founders Edition directly from NVIDIA’s website.
  • Best Buy: Available for purchase in the US.
  • Newegg: Another reliable option for purchasing the RTX 5090.
  • Amazon: The RTX 5090 will also be available on Amazon.
  • B&H Photo: Known for its wide range of electronics, B&H Photo will stock the RTX 5090.

UK Retailers

• • NVIDIA UK: The Founders Edition will be available directly from NVIDIA’s UK website.
  • Scan: Scan will act as a fulfillment partner for NVIDIA, with purchases made through links on the NVIDIA website.
  • Overclockers UK: Another option for purchasing the RTX 5090 in the UK.
  • CCL: CCL will also stock the RTX 5090.

Third-Party Models

• • MSI, Gigabyte, Asus: These brands will offer their own versions of the RTX 5090, which will be available at various retailers.