Nvidia RTX 5090 Review: Performance Tested

Nvidia has officially launched its next flagship graphics card - the RTX 5090 - marking another leap forward in PC gaming technology. Pushing the boundaries of performance and AI capabilities, this behemoth GPU arrives four years after the RTX 4090 with substantial improvements across the board. While raw performance gains in traditional gaming may seem modest at first glance, the card's true potential shines through its revolutionary AI frame generation technology.

Blackwell Architecture Powerhouse

Built on Nvidia's cutting-edge Blackwell architecture, the RTX 5090 brings data-center-grade computing power to consumer graphics. The card features:

• 21,760 CUDA cores (32% more than RTX 4090)
• 680 fifth-gen Tensor Cores
• 170 third-gen RT Cores
• 32GB of next-gen GDDR7 VRAM
• 575W power requirement

What sets the 5090 apart is its revolutionary AI Management Processor (AMP), which enables game-changing performance through intelligent frame pacing and generation. This dedicated processor allows the GPU to handle tasks previously managed by the CPU, dramatically reducing latency in AI-rendered frames.

DLSS 4: The Future of Gaming?

The star feature is undoubtedly DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation, evolving the AI-powered upscaling technology that defined the RTX 40 series. Our tests showed:

• 286 fps in Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K (Overdrive RT preset)
• Nearly 300 fps in Star Wars Outlaws at maximum settings
• 40% faster frame generation than DLSS 3
• 30% reduced memory requirements

Remarkably, the AI-generated frames maintain excellent image quality with minimal artifacts. While skeptics may dismiss this as "fake frames," the performance gains are undeniable for high-refresh 4K gaming.

Performance Benchmarks: The Full Picture

Traditional gaming benchmarks reveal both the 5090's power and current limitations:

As evident, raw gaming performance shows anywhere from 10-42% improvements over the 4090, heavily dependent on the title and how much it can leverage the card's additional cores. Current CPU bottlenecks limit the 5090's potential in many games - a situation likely to improve as developers create more demanding titles.

Innovative Cooling Design

Despite its massive 575W power draw (125W more than the 4090), Nvidia managed to create a surprisingly compact Founders Edition design:

• Dual-slot form factor (smaller than RTX 4090)
• Dual axial-flow fans with vapor chamber cooling
• Max temperature of 86°C under full load
• New 12V-2x6 power connector

The efficient thermal solution demonstrates impressive engineering, though third-party cards will likely be larger.

Pricing and Availability

The RTX 5090 launches January 30 with a $1,999 MSRP for Founders Edition models. However:

• Third-party variants will likely cost $2,200+
• Requires high-capacity power supply (recommended 1200W+)
• Founders Edition includes 12V-2x6 adapter

This positions the 5090 as an enthusiast-grade product - one that makes the most sense for gamers chasing ultra-high frame rates at 4K (120Hz+) or 8K resolution. For those with RTX 4090s playing at 1440p or standard 4K60, the upgrade may be difficult to justify.

The Verdict

Nvidia's RTX 5090 represents both an evolution and revolution in graphics technology. While its traditional rasterization improvements are respectable rather than groundbreaking, the card's AI capabilities point to a future where neural rendering plays an increasingly central role in gaming. For early adopters with high-end displays, the 5090 delivers a genuine taste of tomorrow's gaming technology. More cautious buyers may want to wait until both games and pricing better reflect this new paradigm.