RTX 5080 vs RTX 4090
The RTX 4090 is about 9% faster than the RTX 5080 at 4K and 7% faster at 1440p.
Quick verdict: the RTX 4090 is the faster card. The RTX 5080 is only the smarter buy if you can get it for at least 7% less than the RTX 4090; any smaller discount and you are paying more per frame.
This is the matchup people ask about most: last generation's flagship against this generation's second card. The 4090 still has the bigger chip and 24GB of memory, while the 5080 brings DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation at a much lower launch price and noticeably lower power draw.
RTX 5080 vs RTX 4090: Specs and Performance
| Spec | GeForce RTX 5080 | GeForce RTX 4090 |
|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Time Spy (graphics) | 32,264 | 35,519 |
| Estimated FPS · 1080p | 180 | 190 |
| Estimated FPS · 1440p | 149 | 160 |
| Estimated FPS · 4K | 99 | 108 |
| Video memory | 16 GB | 24 GB |
| Board power | 360 W | 450 W |
| Launch price (MSRP) | $999 | $1,599 |
| PCI Express | 5.0 ×16 | 4.0 ×16 |
| Release year | 2025 | 2022 |
| Series | NVIDIA RTX 50 Series | NVIDIA RTX 40 Series |
Estimated FPS at 1080p, 1440p and 4K
1080p: the RTX 4090 leads by 6%. 1440p: the RTX 4090 leads by 7%. 4K: the RTX 4090 leads by 9%. These figures come from our performance model, calibrated against published benchmark averages. They are estimates for comparing the two cards, not results measured on your PC.
Estimated FPS in Popular Games at 1440p
| Game (settings) | RTX 5080 | RTX 4090 |
|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 (High, no ray tracing) | ~120 | ~130 |
| Fortnite (High, DirectX 12) | ~195 | ~210 |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (High) | ~170 | ~185 |
| Counter-Strike 2 (High) | ~360 | ~385 |
Per-game figures scale each card's modelled 1440p average by how demanding the game is relative to our test blend, rounded to the nearest 5 FPS. Counter-Strike 2 is usually limited by the processor well before these numbers.
Verdict: RTX 5080 or RTX 4090?
The RTX 4090 is slightly faster than the RTX 5080: about 6% at 1080p, 7% at 1440p and 9% at 4K in our model. The gap narrows at 1080p because both cards are closer to what a typical processor can feed them, so the higher your resolution, the more of the difference you actually get.
The RTX 4090 carries 24GB of video memory against 16GB on the RTX 5080. Both have enough for current games at any resolution, so this one is mostly about future headroom.
At launch the RTX 5080 was $999 and the RTX 4090 $1,599, which works out to $6.7 and $10 per frame at 1440p. On those prices the RTX 5080 is the better value, but street prices move every week, so check before you buy. The RTX 4090 is rated for 90W more board power, which means more heat, more fan noise and possibly a bigger power supply.
Beyond raw speed, the RTX 5080 brings DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, while the RTX 4090 offers DLSS 3 Frame Generation.
Bottom line: the RTX 4090 is the faster card. The RTX 5080 is only the smarter buy if you can get it for at least 7% less than the RTX 4090; any smaller discount and you are paying more per frame.
Pairing Either Card With a Processor
A faster graphics card only helps if the processor can keep up. Each card's own page lists the slowest CPU that will not hold it back at every resolution:
- GeForce RTX 5080: best CPU pairing and bottleneck
- GeForce RTX 4090: best CPU pairing and bottleneck
- Check your own processor in the bottleneck calculator
Power supply: a common rule of thumb is the card's board power plus about 150W for the rest of a gaming PC, with 30% headroom. That points to roughly 700W for the RTX 5080 and 800W for the RTX 4090. Check the card maker's own recommendation too.
Related GPU Comparisons
RTX 5080 vs RTX 4090: Common Questions
Is the RTX 5080 better than the RTX 4090?
The RTX 4090 is the faster card. The RTX 5080 is only the smarter buy if you can get it for at least 7% less than the RTX 4090; any smaller discount and you are paying more per frame. The RTX 4090 is about 9% faster than the RTX 5080 at 4K and 7% faster at 1440p.
Which is better for 1440p, the RTX 5080 or the RTX 4090?
The GeForce RTX 4090, by about 7% (160 vs 149 FPS on high settings in our model).
Which is better for 4K, the RTX 5080 or the RTX 4090?
The GeForce RTX 4090, by about 9% (108 vs 99 FPS on high settings in our model).
Does the RTX 5080 have more VRAM than the RTX 4090?
No. The RTX 5080 has 16GB, while the RTX 4090 has 24GB.
Data last reviewed October 15, 2026. Launch prices are US MSRPs; board power is the reference design's rating. See the methodology for how every figure is produced.