NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090: The Pinnacle of Blackwell’s Graphics for Gamers
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 represents the zenith of Blackwell’s offerings for gamers. This powerhouse graphics card is a formidable choice for both content creators and gamers. NVIDIA has engineered this marvel with precision, presenting it at a hefty price tag of $2000 US, marking the most significant price increase for a GeForce GPU.
Featuring the new Blackwell GPU architecture, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 series leverages next-generation hardware technologies such as 5th Gen Tensor Cores, new streaming multiprocessor units, and 4th Gen ray tracing cores. This architecture also supports FP4 algorithms for even faster AI processing capabilities, enhancing technologies like DLSS 4.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Graphics Card Specifications
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090, the flagship GPU of the lineup, features the PG144/145-SKU30 PCB design with the GB202-300-A1 GPU core. It boasts 170 SMs out of a total of 192 SMs, providing 21,760 cores, a slight reduction of 11.4% compared to the RTX 4090’s full AD102 die.
| Graphics Card Name | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPU Name | Blackwell GB202-300 | Blackwell GB203-400 | Blackwell GB203-300-A1 | Blackwell GB205-300-A1 | Blackwell GB206? | Blackwell GB206? |
| GPU SMs | 170 (192 Full) | 84 (84 Full) | 70 (84 Full) | 50 (50 SM Full) | TBD | TBD |
| GPU Cores | 21760 (+33%) | 10752 (+11%) | 8960 (+16%) | 6144 | TBD | TBD |
| Clock Speeds | 2.41 GHz | 2.62 GHz | 2.45 GHz | 2.51 GHz | TBD | TBD |
| L2 Cache | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Memory Capacity | 32 GB GDDR7 (+33%) | 16 GB GDDR7 (0%) | 16 GB GDDR7 | 12 GB GDDR7 | 16 GB GDDR7 | 8 GB GDDR7 |
| Memory Bus | 512-bit (+33%) | 256-bit (0%) | 256-bit (0%) | 192-bit (0%) | 128-bit (0%) | 128-bit (0%) |
| Memory Speed | 28 Gbps | 30 Gbps | 28 Gbps | 28 Gbps | 28 Gbps? | 28 Gbps? |
| Bandwidth | 1792 GB/s | 960 GB/s | 896 GB/s | 672 GB/s | 448 GB/s | 448 GB/s |
| TBP | 575W (+27%) | 360W (+12.5%) | 300W (+10.5%) | 250W (+14%) | TBD | TBD |
| Power Interface | 1 12V-2×6 (16-Pin) | 1 12V-2×6 (16-Pin) | 1 12V-2×6 (16-Pin) | 1 12VHPWR (16-Pin) | 1 12VHPWR (16-Pin) | 1 12VHPWR (16-Pin) |
| Launch | January 2025 | January 2025 | February 2025 | February 2025 | March-April 2025 | March-April 2025 |
| Price | $1999 US | $999 US | $749 US | $549 US | TBD | TBD |
On the memory front, the RTX 5090 offers an impressive 32 GB of GDDR7 VRAM, operating across a 512-bit interface at 30 Gbps speeds, delivering up to 1792 GB/s of bandwidth. Enhanced L3 cache and new memory compression techniques further boost the overall bandwidth available to the GPU.
Performance and Power
The RTX 5090 comes with a 575W TBP rating, though real-world gaming power consumption is much lower. It supports the latest technologies such as PCIe Gen 5.0 and DisplayPort 2.1b UHBR20 (8K 165Hz), maximizing the potential of newer QD-OLED panels.
Performance Benchmarks
NVIDIA claims that the RTX 5090 offers over twice the performance of the RTX 4090, particularly with DLSS 4 in games like Cyberpunk 2077, Alan Wake 2, and Black Myth Wukong. Standard titles like Far Cry 6 see a 30-40% performance uplift without DLSS.
Design and Availability
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition features a dual-slot, dual-fan cooling solution with a compact design, including a double flow-through setup with two intake fans at the front. Measuring 304mm in length and 137mm in height, it employs liquid TIM and a unique 3-layered PCB. Custom versions from board partners will also be available.
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, the fastest GPUs in the lineup, are set to launch on January 30th.
