The long-awaited NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is here – but good luck getting your hands on one. From shipping delays to hardware defects, this GPU launch has been far from smooth.

Controversy aside, it's exciting to finally have confirmed performance details for this high-end graphics card. You can try it now for yourself on Vast.ai. Here's everything you need to know about the RTX 5090...

RTX 5090: The Performance King?

As NVIDIA's new flagship GPU, the RTX 5090 is undoubtedly an impressive machine. Is it worth the $1999 price tag, though? That depends on more than just raw power – let's take a look.

Official Specs

For starters, here are some of the official specs for the RTX 5090:

• Architecture: Powered by NVIDIA's cutting-edge Blackwell architecture.
• Gaming Chip: Featuring the next-gen GB202 gaming chip.
• Memory: 32GB of GDDR7 memory with a blazing-fast 1,792GB/sec bandwidth, supported by a super-wide 512-bit memory interface for even faster data transfer.
• CUDA Cores: 21,760 cores, ideal for high-performance graphics and AI workloads.
• L2 Cache: Expanded to 98MB, up from 73MB on the RTX 4090, improving memory efficiency and reducing latency.
• Display Support: PCIe Gen 5 with DisplayPort 2.1b connectors supporting up to 8K at 165Hz.
• Power Requirements: 575W total graphics power (TGP), with a 1000W power supply recommended for optimal performance.

Another bonus? The RTX 5090 has a redesigned Founders Edition with a two-slot design and a dual flow-through fan configuration – so it's compact enough for small form factor PCs, a remarkable shift from its predecessors.

For reference, here's a quick overview of the RTX 5090 specs:

(For more specifications – and to see how the RTX 5090 stacks up against its younger siblings in the RTX 50-series lineup as well as the RTX 4090 – check out the chart at the bottom of this page.)

AI and Professional Workloads

Beyond gaming, the RTX 5090 is well suited for high-performance AI and professional workloads. Its 680 Tensor cores and 32GB of GDDR7 memory efficiently accelerate deep learning, 3D rendering, and other compute-intensive tasks. With 98MB of L2 cache and a 512-bit memory interface, the RTX 5090 delivers faster data access and reduced latency – crucial for AI training, scientific computing, and content creation.

The 5th-gen Tensor cores boost AI inference efficiency in frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch, while 4th-gen RT cores enhance real-time ray tracing for animation, visual effects, CAD work, and more.

For demanding AI and video workloads, the RTX 5090 more than meets the challenge. In Procyon's AI XL (FP16) test, the RTX 5090 was 40% faster than the RTX 4090, and in PugetBench's DaVinci Resolve video processing test, it was 12% faster.

However, cutting-edge performance doesn't necessarily mean a flawless launch! Early adopters are already encountering serious issues in some cases.

Next-Gen Gaming Features

The biggest leap in technology for this GPU comes from DLSS 4's new Multi Frame Generation, an AI-driven frame interpolation technique exclusive to the RTX 50 series. It uses AI to generate up to three additional frames between traditionally rendered ones, significantly boosting frame rates with minimal visual artifacts.

Further, the RTX 5090 introduces a range of AI-driven enhancements in what's called neural rendering, designed to push in-game realism to new levels. RTX Neural Shaders improve texture compression and deliver film-quality lighting and shading in real time, while RTX Neural Faces uses generative AI to create lifelike skin, hair, and facial details.

Building on the power of DLSS 4, these neural rendering techniques integrate directly into the graphics pipeline, leveraging NVIDIA’s Tensor cores to enhance visual fidelity. Though game support is still in development, early demos – such as Half-Life 2 RTX – showcase the potential for deeper shadows, realistic translucency in materials, and an overall richer environment.

Another breakthrough is Mega Geometry, a feature that uses RT cores to significantly boost the number of triangles in ray-traced scenes. This allows game engines to maintain full geometric detail without sacrificing performance, resulting in more realistic object depth, shadows, and fine details.

The above features position the RTX 5090 as a powerhouse for next-generation gaming visuals... but there's a catch.

Caveat: Performance Claims vs. Real-World Results

The way that NVIDIA presents its performance numbers can be misleading. The company leans heavily on Multi Frame Generation-boosted FPS (frames per second) to compare these new GPUs against older ones.

Frame Generation and Multi Frame Generation (MFG) are powerful tools, but they aren't universal fixes. Their impact varies by game – some titles see massive FPS gains with little visual trade-off, while others may introduce artifacts or latency.

In addition, not all games will support these features, as DLSS adoption depends on individual developers. A GPU's raw performance still matters. MFG-inflated benchmarks can make performance gains seem more significant, but Frame Generation still needs a strong base frame rate to be effective. In CPU-limited games, or titles that don't support DLSS 4, the real-world performance gap may be far smaller.

Ultimately, while the RTX 5090 excels at AI-driven rendering, real-world results will depend on game support and how well these features are implemented.

Early Defects and Controversies

Melting Power Connectors

Reports of melted power connectors on the RTX 5090 Founders Edition have surfaced. A number of users have experienced burnt plastic at both the GPU and PSU ends – with user error and third-party cables evidently not to blame.

NVIDIA introduced the updated 12V-2x6 power connector for the RTX 50 series following melting and overheating issues with the RTX 40-series GPUs. The new connector features shorter sensing pins and longer conductor terminals to improve connection reliability. Users can still use existing 12VHPWR cables with the RTX 50 series; however, the RTX 5090 can draw up to 575 watts of power – which is dangerously close to the cable's 600-watt rating.

PSU manufacturers have taken precautions, such as adding visual indicators to ensure a secure connection, but it remains unclear whether this fully resolves the risk of overheating. So far, NVIDIA has declined to comment on the reports.

Chip-Level Fault

One of the more unexpected issues plaguing the RTX 5090 launch is what's now being called the "missing ROPs" defect. NVIDIA has officially confirmed that a small number of RTX 5090, RTX 5090D, and RTX 5070 Ti cards were shipped with fewer ROPs (Render Output Units) than they should have. These ROPs are basically rendering pipelines for 3D graphics. Having fewer of them slows down PC gaming performance.

While this defect reportedly only impacts an estimated 0.5% of units (or around 1 in 200), affected cards have an average 4% drop in graphical performance. Since it's a hardware issue, it can't be fixed via BIOS or driver updates. However, it has no impact on AI and compute tasks, and NVIDIA has corrected the production anomaly while offering free replacements for affected cards.

Tools like GPU-Z can help verify whether your card has the correct number of ROPs; if fewer than 176, it should probably be replaced.

Shipping Delays and Stock Shortages

Due to a combination of these production issues as well as high demand and supply chain challenges, the RTX 5090 is currently experiencing significant shipping delays. Availability is low and wait times are high. UK retailer Overclockers has been particularly transparent about lead times, revealing that it could take anywhere from 3-16 weeks for its customers to receive an RTX 5090 that they've already pre-ordered.

Most other retailers are facing similar challenges, with limited stock and long waitlists becoming prevalent. Speculation about imminent price hikes is already growing.

Price Increase Rumors

It's no surprise that high demand and limited supply often lead to rising prices. With the RTX 5090, though, there may be another factor at play. DeepSeek's rapid rise in popularity has sparked a huge surge in demand for NVIDIA's gaming GPUs in China, as these cards can be repurposed to run DeepSeek's AI models – and provide a workaround for U.S. export restrictions on advanced GPUs.

(For more info on DeepSeek and how to run their LLM on our GPU cloud, see our previous post here.)

With both gamers and AI developers vying for the same hardware, the strain on supply could push prices even higher in the near future. Some forecasts predict RTX 5090 prices could skyrocket to $5,000 or more.

Final Thoughts: The Power of the RTX 5090 – Without the Hassle

Despite its hurdles, the RTX 5090 represents a major step forward in AI-driven graphics and cutting-edge performance, cementing its place as the most powerful consumer-grade GPU available today.

At the same time, it may only be worth purchasing if you really want the best of the best and you're willing to shell out for it. With a $1,999 price tag and relatively modest raw performance gains over the RTX 4090, the RTX 5090's true potential hinges on the wider adoption of Multi Frame Generation and neural rendering – features that, if fully embraced, could eventually make this flagship GPU a must-have for those willing to invest.

In the meantime, why wait? Skip the delays and high costs – rent an RTX 5090 on Vast.ai for instant access to top-tier performance! Given its limited availability on store shelves and its 575-watt power draw, our affordable rental options are the most practical way to access the RTX 5090's full potential without the upfront investment.

Try it out for yourself today!

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