RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090
The RTX 5090 is about 29% faster than the RTX 4090 at 4K and 28% faster at 1440p.
Quick verdict: the RTX 5090 is the faster card. The RTX 4090 is only the smarter buy if you can get it for at least 22% less than the RTX 5090; any smaller discount and you are paying more per frame.
The two fastest consumer cards NVIDIA has made. The 5090 adds 32GB of GDDR7 and a clear lead at 4K, at the cost of a higher launch price and a 575W power budget that needs a serious power supply.
RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090: Specs and Performance
| Spec | GeForce RTX 5090 | GeForce RTX 4090 |
|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Time Spy (graphics) | 49,256 | 35,519 |
| Estimated FPS · 1080p | 242 | 190 |
| Estimated FPS · 1440p | 204 | 160 |
| Estimated FPS · 4K | 139 | 108 |
| Video memory | 32 GB | 24 GB |
| Board power | 575 W | 450 W |
| Launch price (MSRP) | $1,999 | $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 5090 leads by 27%. 1440p: the RTX 5090 leads by 28%. 4K: the RTX 5090 leads by 29%. 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 5090 | RTX 4090 |
|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 (High, no ray tracing) | ~165 | ~130 |
| Fortnite (High, DirectX 12) | ~265 | ~210 |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (High) | ~235 | ~185 |
| Counter-Strike 2 (High) | ~490 | ~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 5090 or RTX 4090?
The RTX 5090 is a full performance tier faster than the RTX 4090: about 27% at 1080p, 28% at 1440p and 29% at 4K in our model.
The RTX 5090 carries 32GB of video memory against 24GB on the RTX 4090. Both have enough for current games at any resolution, so this one is mostly about future headroom.
At launch the RTX 5090 was $1,999 and the RTX 4090 $1,599, which works out to $9.8 and $10 per frame at 1440p. On those prices the RTX 5090 is the better value, but street prices move every week, so check before you buy. The RTX 5090 is rated for 125W more board power, which means more heat, more fan noise and possibly a bigger power supply.
Beyond raw speed, the RTX 5090 brings DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, while the RTX 4090 offers DLSS 3 Frame Generation.
Bottom line: the RTX 5090 is the faster card. The RTX 4090 is only the smarter buy if you can get it for at least 22% less than the RTX 5090; 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 5090: 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 950W for the RTX 5090 and 800W for the RTX 4090. Check the card maker's own recommendation too.
Related GPU Comparisons
RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090: Common Questions
Is the RTX 5090 better than the RTX 4090?
The RTX 5090 is the faster card. The RTX 4090 is only the smarter buy if you can get it for at least 22% less than the RTX 5090; any smaller discount and you are paying more per frame. The RTX 5090 is about 29% faster than the RTX 4090 at 4K and 28% faster at 1440p.
Which is better for 1440p, the RTX 5090 or the RTX 4090?
The GeForce RTX 5090, by about 28% (204 vs 160 FPS on high settings in our model).
Which is better for 4K, the RTX 5090 or the RTX 4090?
The GeForce RTX 5090, by about 29% (139 vs 108 FPS on high settings in our model).
Does the RTX 5090 have more VRAM than the RTX 4090?
Yes. The RTX 5090 has 32GB against 24GB on the RTX 4090.
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.