Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition Review

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

Nvidia's latest flagship, the RTX 5090, ushers in a new era of PC gaming, but its performance gains are surprisingly nuanced. While raw power surpasses its predecessor, the RTX 4090, the true generational leap comes from its advanced AI capabilities, specifically DLSS 4.

Performance: A Tale of Two Halves

The RTX 5090 boasts a significant increase in CUDA cores (21,760 vs. 16,384 on the RTX 4090), thanks to architectural improvements. This translates to a substantial raw performance boost, particularly evident in benchmarks like 3DMark, where it shows up to a 42% improvement over the 4090. However, real-world gaming performance reveals a more complex picture. In many titles, even at 4K, the RTX 5090 is limited by CPU bottlenecks, resulting in less dramatic frame rate increases compared to the 4090. The generational leap is more pronounced when compared to the older RTX 3090.

DLSS 4: The AI Advantage

DLSS 4's Multi-Frame Generation is the game-changer. Building upon DLSS 3, it's significantly more efficient, generating multiple frames from a single rendered image. This results in massive frame rate boosts, particularly noticeable at high resolutions (4K+) and refresh rates (240Hz+). While labeled "fake frames" by some, the technology impressively minimizes artifacts and latency, creating a smooth, high-framerate experience. However, its effectiveness is contingent on already having a decent base frame rate; enabling it at lower frame rates can introduce noticeable lag.

RTX 5090 Founders Edition: Design and Power

The Founders Edition is surprisingly compact, fitting a dual-slot chassis despite its 575W power requirement. Nvidia achieved this through a redesigned PCB layout and efficient cooling. While temperatures reach 86°C under load, this is within acceptable limits and doesn't cause throttling. The new 12V-2x6 power connector, while similar to its predecessor, aims to improve efficiency and security.

Should You Upgrade?

The RTX 5090's performance is undeniably impressive, but its value proposition depends heavily on your existing hardware and gaming preferences. For those with high-refresh-rate 4K displays and a desire for cutting-edge AI-enhanced gaming, it's a worthwhile investment. However, for gamers with RTX 4090s or those primarily playing at lower resolutions, the upgrade may not justify the significant cost. The RTX 5090 is a future-proof investment, especially for upcoming titles demanding high graphical fidelity.

Which new graphics card are you planning to buy?

[Poll: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, I'm waiting to see AMD's new cards, Not planning on upgrading this generation]