NVIDIA RTX 4090 vs. RTX 5090: How They Stack Up
The NVIDIA RTX 5090 builds on the foundation of the RTX 4090 with a new architecture, more memory, and significantly greater AI and graphics performance. But does the newer GPU make the RTX 4090 obsolete, or does the 4090 still have its place for the right workloads?
Today, we're comparing the RTX 4090 with the RTX 5090 across a number of specs and performance metrics. Let's explore how they stack up against each other!
NVIDIA RTX 4090: Still a High-End Contender
The RTX 4090 made waves as the top-tier consumer-grade GPU of its generation. Built on the AD102 chip and Ada Lovelace architecture, it quickly became the go-to choice for high-end gaming and demanding professional workloads.
With a triple-slot design, the RTX 4090 boasts 128 third-gen RT cores and 512 fourth-gen Tensor cores, elevating ray-tracing performance and speeding up AI-driven tasks like DLSS 3 in games.
Plus, it's packed with 16,384 CUDA cores and has 24GB of GDDR6X memory with a maximum bandwidth of 1,008 GB/s and a 384-bit memory bus interface. Error-correcting code (ECC) can be enabled, but this reduces performance while making no difference in GPU rendering – so keeping it turned off is appropriate for most uses when you're prioritizing speed.
Due to its high processing capabilities, the RTX 4090 draws plenty of power: 450 watts. It requires an 850-watt power supply and robust cooling solutions, making it one of the more demanding GPUs to run, to this day.
When it launched in October 2022, the RTX 4090 raised the bar for consumer GPUs. It may no longer sit at the top, but its capabilities continue to make it a powerhouse for serious workloads and high-end gaming.
NVIDIA RTX 5090: What the Blackwell Flagship Brings
The RTX 5090, released in January 2025, redefined high-end performance in the consumer space with its groundbreaking features and next-gen architecture. With the RTX 50 series, NVIDIA moved beyond Ada Lovelace and into the era of the Blackwell architecture.
Joining the Blackwell GPU lineup, the flagship GeForce RTX 5090 utilizes the "physically monolithic" GB202 die. Among its highlights are a 512-bit memory bus and 32GB of next-gen GDDR7 memory (the successor to the GDDR6/X memory used by the RTX 40-series GPUs). The RTX 5090 also boasts memory bandwidth of 1,792 GB/s, a substantial jump from the RTX 4090's 1,008 GB/s.
RTX 4090 vs. RTX 5090: Specs Compared
| Spec | RTX 4090 | RTX 5090 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ada Lovelace | Blackwell |
| VRAM | 24GB GDDR6X | 32GB GDDR7 |
| VRAM Speed | 21Gbps | 28Gbps |
| VRAM Bus Width | 384 | 512 |
| Bandwidth | 1.01TB/s | 1792GB/s |
| Streaming Multiprocessors (SMs) | 128 | 170 |
| Tensor Cores | 512 | 680 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 128 | 170 |
| Boost Clock | 2520 MHz | 2407 MHz |
| Total Graphics Power (TGP) | 450W | 575W |
| Recommended Power Supply | 850W | 1000W |
| Launch Date | Sept. 20, 2022 | Jan. 30, 2025 |
| Launch Price | $1,599 | $1,999 |
Additionally, the RTX 5090 comes equipped with 170 streaming multiprocessors (SMs) and 21,760 CUDA cores, as well as 170 fourth-gen RT cores and 680 fifth-gen Tensor cores – up from 128 and 512 respectively in the RTX 4090.
In terms of power consumption, the RTX 5090 has a total graphics power (TGP) of 575 watts, considerably higher than the RTX 4090's 450 watts.
When it comes to demanding AI and video workloads, the RTX 5090 shows clear gains over its predecessor. In Procyon's AI XL (FP16) benchmark, it outperformed the RTX 4090 by 40%, and in PugetBench's DaVinci Resolve test, it delivered a 12% performance boost.
Next-generation gaming features are a major draw for the RTX 5090. One of the most significant leaps forward comes from DLSS 4, NVIDIA's AI-powered upscaling technology that further enhances performance and image quality. With advancements like Multi Frame Generation, Neural Rendering, and Mega Geometry – and with 4K 240FPS gaming becoming more attainable – the RTX 5090 is perfectly positioned to tackle the most demanding gaming scenarios and deliver the best possible gameplay experience.
(For a detailed examination of the RTX 5090, delving into its gaming features, real-world performance, and more, see our in-depth post here.)
RTX 4090 vs. RTX 5090: Which GPU Should You Choose?
Even after the release of the RTX 5090, the RTX 4090 remains a powerful GPU capable of handling a wide variety of gaming and professional workloads. However, the RTX 5090 delivers a substantial performance boost along with improvements in memory capacity and bandwidth that can make a meaningful difference for demanding AI and graphics workloads.
For gamers and professionals alike, the choice ultimately comes down to how much additional performance you need.
Cost is another critical factor. The RTX 5090 is a top-of-the-line machine with a matching price tag. And the RTX 4090 is no slouch, either, still commanding a steep price to this day.
Here at Vast.ai, we take pride in providing access to powerful machines for rent on the cloud at unbeatable prices. Vast offers unmatched flexibility, enabling you to utilize state-of-the-art technology without the expense and upkeep of purchasing your own hardware.
Whether you're looking to explore the capabilities of high-end consumer GPUs like the RTX 4090 or 5090, or check out any other machine on Vast, we'd be happy to help you discover the possibilities!
