Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090: The AI-Powered Graphics Card Revolutionizing Gaming

Your perception of this as a success may hinge on your refresh rate. Users with 4K displays that operate at 60 Hz will likely be satisfied with the performance, while those sporting 120-Hz monitors may find they need to adjust settings to consistently achieve over 100 fps. It appears that achieving authentic 4K gaming at the highest settings remains elusive with current hardware, especially in the absence of technologies like frame generation that mitigate the problem.

My primary gaming monitor is a 1440p ultrawide boasting a refresh rate of 120 Hz, a trend many of my friends seem to follow. This setup allows for consistently high frame rates and enhances the cinematic experience on a single screen that adeptly accommodates two windows for tasks outside gaming.

You can anticipate performance in the range of 90 to 120 fps for most titles at this resolution, which is fantastic news for gamers aiming to maximize the performance of their monitors. Single-player games rich in cinematic elements, such as Cyberpunk 2022 and Star Wars Outlaws, are already pushing the boundaries of visual quality, so it’s natural to acknowledge that there’s still some potential for improvement, particularly given how stunning they already appear. Conversely, online games and shooters like Marvel Rivals run smoothly without much assistance, where stable frame rates tend to matter more.

Is This the Right Choice for You?

If you’re contemplating the RTX 5090, whether it’s the Founders Edition or another variant, examining your budget is essential. The Founders Edition will cost you around $2,000 if purchased directly from Nvidia, and third-party models with overclocking and cooling solutions will likely be even pricier. Additionally, a quality monitor that fully utilizes your new graphical capabilities could set you back about $1,000, along with potentially needing a 1,000-watt or 1,200-watt power supply unit. This all adds up to a possible total of around $3,500 before considering any other components, which makes it hard to envision embarking on such a hefty build.

The RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 are slated for release at the end of January, with additional more affordable options expected to follow thereafter. While I haven’t tested the other RTX 50 Series cards yet, I can affirm that they appear to be priced much more attractively. I anticipate that these models will come equipped with multiframe generation capabilities from the start, which is excellent news for those who simply want to enjoy smooth gaming.

Past Founders Edition launches have quickly sold out, so if you’re keen on snagging one of these, you might want to be up bright and early on the 30th. This situation gives the RTX 5090 the impression of being more of a showcase than just a flagship within the 50 Series.

It’s the GPU I imagine while fantasizing about a new setup, rather than the first component I would choose for a realistic build on PCPartPicker. If the price doesn’t raise any red flags for you, then certainly enjoy your new GPU. For the rest of us, it might be wiser to wait and see how the rest of the new GPUs perform before making a leap.