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NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Graphics Card – Specs, Price, Performance & Issues

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card is the flagship of the new RTX 50 series, powered by the Blackwell architecture. Launched in January 2025, the RTX 5090 delivers record-breaking performance, AI-powered rendering, and next-generation memory bandwidth. But with a launch price of $1,999 and retail prices often higher, many gamers and professionals are asking: Is the RTX 5090 worth it?

In this guide, we’ll cover the RTX 5090 specs, price, benchmarks, performance, problems, and real-world use cases to help you decide.

RTX 5090 Key Specifications

The RTX 5090 is built on TSMC’s 4N process and introduces major improvements across the board.

  • GPU Architecture: Blackwell (successor to Ada Lovelace)

  • CUDA Cores: 21,760 (33% more than RTX 4090)

  • Memory: 32 GB GDDR7

  • Bus Width: 512-bit

  • Memory Bandwidth: ~1,792 GB/s

  • Power (TDP): ~600W

  • Connectors: PCIe 5.0 x16, 16-pin (adapter to 4×8-pin)

  • Display Outputs: 3× DisplayPort 2.1b, 1× HDMI 2.1b

✅ Biggest upgrade: The move to GDDR7 memory and DLSS 4 Multi-Frame Generation, which significantly improve gaming and AI workloads.

RTX 5090 Price & Availability

At launch, the RTX 5090 MSRP was $1,999. However, availability issues pushed prices higher:

  • US: ~$2,280 retail

  • UK: £2,000 (recently dropped to £1,889)

  • EU: €2,229 after NVIDIA’s price cut

➡️ Important: Even after price adjustments, the RTX 5090 is one of the most expensive consumer GPUs ever released.

RTX 5090 Performance

Gaming Benchmarks

  • Delivers 30% higher raw performance than RTX 4090.

  • Handles 4K and 8K gaming at ultra settings with ease.

  • DLSS 4 Multi-Frame Generation boosts FPS dramatically by AI-generating frames.

Games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Doom Eternal achieve 100+ FPS in 4K ultra settings with ray tracing enabled.

Productivity & AI Workloads

  • Perfect for AI inference, machine learning, and creative workloads thanks to its fifth-gen Tensor cores.

  • Strong adoption in 3D rendering, video editing, and VR environments.

RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090

Feature RTX 5090 RTX 4090 Difference
CUDA Cores 21,760 16,384 +33%
Memory 32 GB GDDR7 24 GB GDDR6X Faster & larger
Bandwidth 1,792 GB/s 1,008 GB/s +77%
Power Consumption ~600W 450W Higher
Price at Launch $1,999 $1,599 +$400

➡️ The RTX 5090 beats the RTX 4090 in nearly every metric, but it consumes more power and costs significantly more.

RTX 5090 Issues & Problems

No GPU launch is perfect, and the RTX 5090 has seen its share of problems:

  1. Manufacturing Defect – Some early cards shipped with missing ROPs, lowering performance by ~4%. NVIDIA offered replacements.

  2. Black Screen Bug – Fixed in February driver update (572.60).

  3. Virtualization Reset Bug – Causes cards to become unresponsive after a reset in VFIO/KVM setups. No fix yet.

  4. Power Connector Concerns – The new 12V-2×6 pin design has raised safety concerns about overheating.

  5. GPU Scams – Some fake RTX 5090s on the second-hand market have been sold without a GPU die or VRAM installed.

RTX 5090 Special Editions

  • 128 GB Modded Version (China) – Modified with huge VRAM, priced at ~$13,000 for AI research.

  • Gold-Plated Collector’s Edition – ASUS ROG Astral RTX 5090 Dhahab OC, plated in 24-karat gold.

  • AIB Models – ASUS ROG, MSI Suprim, Gigabyte Aorus Master offer factory overclocked versions up to 5% faster than Founders Edition.

Who Should Buy the RTX 5090?

Best For:

  • Gamers who want the fastest GPU available for 4K/8K and high refresh monitors.

  • Professionals running AI, ML, or content creation workloads.

  • Enthusiasts who want future-proof performance.

Not Recommended For:

  • Gamers already using an RTX 4090 – the upgrade may not justify the price.

  • Budget buyers – cheaper RTX 50 series cards (5070, 5080) may offer better value.

Conclusion – Is the RTX 5090 Worth It?

The NVIDIA RTX 5090 graphics card is the most powerful consumer GPU of 2025. With 32 GB GDDR7 memory, massive CUDA core count, and DLSS 4 AI frame generation, it redefines high-end gaming and professional workloads.

But it comes with downsides: high price, power consumption, and early manufacturing/driver issues. If you demand the absolute best performance, the RTX 5090 is unbeatable. If you want value for money, waiting for the RTX 5080 or considering an RTX 4090 might be the smarter move.