GeForce RTX 4090 vs GeForce RTX 5090
The GeForce RTX 5090 is a big jump in performance — leading the GeForce RTX 4090 by roughly 39% in our performance index. The GeForce RTX 4090, however, delivers more performance per dollar — $1,461 EUR cheaper.
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GeForce RTX 5090 vs GeForce RTX 4090: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 5090 vs GeForce RTX 4090
The GeForce RTX 5090 is significantly faster, around 39% ahead of the GeForce RTX 4090. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to 4K and high-refresh 1440p. The GeForce RTX 5090 packs 21,760 CUDA cores versus 16,384 on the GeForce RTX 4090.
Price & Value
On price, expect to pay $2,139 EUR for the GeForce RTX 4090 versus $3,600 EUR for the GeForce RTX 5090. Despite being slower, the GeForce RTX 4090 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~21% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce RTX 4090 still sits about $540 EUR above its $1,599 EUR MSRP. The GeForce RTX 5090 still sits about $1,601 EUR above its $1,999 EUR MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce RTX 4090 pulls less power (450W vs 575W), so it's the easier card to cool and the lighter load on your PSU. The faster GeForce RTX 5090 draws more overall but extracts more performance from each watt — plan for a sturdier power supply if you pick it. Its more modern Blackwell architecture on a TSMC 4N process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
With 32GB against 24GB, the GeForce RTX 5090 has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the GeForce RTX 4090's 24GB can fall short. The GeForce RTX 5090's memory is also faster — 1,792 GB/s versus 1,008 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 3 years newer than the GeForce RTX 4090 (Blackwell vs Ada Lovelace), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 4090 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 4090 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 5090 better than the GeForce RTX 4090?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 4090 or the GeForce RTX 5090?
Is the GeForce RTX 5090 worth the extra $1,461 EUR over the GeForce RTX 4090?
Does the GeForce RTX 5090 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 4090 or GeForce RTX 5090?
Video Benchmarks & Review
RTX 5070 vs RTX 5080 vs RTX 4090 vs RTX 5090 - Test in 20 Games
Editorial Review: What the Benchmarks Show
This flagship cross-generational battle analyzed by PixelBench tests the older Ada Lovelace leader RTX 4090 against the Blackwell powerhouse RTX 5090. The RTX 5090 delivers a solid 25-35% performance improvement in standard workloads and provides a massive upgrade in ray-traced gaming where DLSS 4 frame generation multiplies the frame rate.
Curated gameplay footage and benchmarking review from PixelBench on YouTube.
Watch original on YouTube ↗Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 4090 | GeForce RTX 5090 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ada Lovelace | Blackwell |
| Process Node | TSMC 4N | TSMC 4N |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 16,384 | 21,760✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 128 | 170✓ |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 512 | 680✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 4090 | GeForce RTX 5090 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 2,235 MHz✓ | 2,010 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 2,520 MHz✓ | 2,407 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 4090 | GeForce RTX 5090 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 24 GB | 32 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR6X | GDDR7 |
| Memory Bus | 384-bit | 512-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 21 Gbps | 28 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 1,008 GB/s | 1,792 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 4090 | GeForce RTX 5090 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 5.0 x16 |
| TDP | 450 W✓ | 575 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 16-pin | 1x 16-pin |
| Released | Sep 2022 | Jan 2025 |
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