GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
On raw speed the GeForce RTX 5090 comes out dramatically faster — about 156% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3090. But the GeForce RTX 3090 is the better value, undercutting it by $4,600 CAD for the performance you get.
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GeForce RTX 5090 vs GeForce RTX 3090: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 5090 vs GeForce RTX 3090
The GeForce RTX 5090 is dramatically faster, around 156% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3090. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 5090 is comfortable at 4K and high-refresh 1440p, while the GeForce RTX 3090 is better matched to 1440p. The GeForce RTX 5090 packs 21,760 CUDA cores versus 10,496 on the GeForce RTX 3090.
Price & Value
The GeForce RTX 3090 currently lists from $800 CAD, $4,600 CAD less than the GeForce RTX 5090 at $5,400 CAD. Despite being slower, the GeForce RTX 3090 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~163% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce RTX 3090 is trading below its $1,499 CAD MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce RTX 5090 still sits about $3,401 CAD above its $1,999 CAD MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
On power, the GeForce RTX 3090 is the gentler choice at 350W versus 575W. The GeForce RTX 5090 is more efficient per watt because it's faster, but its higher 575W draw means more heat and a bigger PSU. Its more modern Blackwell architecture on a TSMC 4N process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
The GeForce RTX 5090 carries 32GB versus 24GB on the GeForce RTX 3090. The extra 8GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers. The GeForce RTX 5090's memory is also faster — 1,792 GB/s versus 936 GB/s (512-bit vs 384-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 5090 is roughly 5 years newer than the GeForce RTX 3090 (Blackwell vs Ampere), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3090 or GeForce RTX 5090?
Choose the GeForce RTX 5090 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce RTX 3090 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.