Can you guess the one thing that NVIDIA doesn’t want you to know? Well, you don’t actually need an RTX 5090 to run the latest games at max graphics settings. Well at least not yet and here’s why.
RTX 5090 Specs
the RTX 5090 specs are definitely jaw-dropping with 48GB of GDDR7 memory, over 20,000 CUDA cores, and over-the-top clock speed. Theoretically speaking, it’s a beast, but would you actually need that? Would any game on the market right now need that type of graphical power? Eventually, you’re unlikely to utilize its full potential. It’s like a supercar for city driving. I agree, it’s boogy and fun, but you won’t get out of that second gear.
In addition, the difference in terms of FPS between RTX 5090 and RTX 4090 isn’t that huge. Digital Foundry’s tests showed that most games delivered 15% more FPS using the RTX 5090. Impressive but not necessary.
Is it worth the price?
Recently published games, even the unpolished ones, didn’t have major performance problems with older GPUs. On the contrary, Cyberpunk 2077 with its recent DLC, for instance, worked perfectly well on RTX 3070 even when pushing the settings at 144p with DLSS and ray tracing enabled. Developers don’t look at the recent GPU in the market and optimize the game for it. They optimize the game for the masses, and not for the elite. Remember, the objective is always to sell the maximum number of copies.
Even in the near future, an RTX 5090 that’s worth $2,500 would be an overkill for most titles. With that amount of money, you can invest in a decent gaming rig, including peripherals.
In 2025, that price would get you a decent rig with an RTX 4070 Ti, an ultra-wide monitor and you will still have cash left to craft a solid library.
Power consumption
Now imagine running a heater that consumes 600 watts. Well, that’s exactly how it feels when running an RTX 5090. Beyond the environmental impact, imagine how much it will cost to cool down that GPU running 24/7 simply and that’s while excluding the other PC components like the CPU and Memory that you will have to upgrade when changing the GPU, even the case.
So, if you’re not willing to run 5 games while recording, streaming, and working on Photoshop while gaming, then that’s definitely overkill and doesn’t need that amount of horsepower just to get that 20% increase in FPS
In this situation, you will need a beefy PSU, an advanced cooling system, and basically a wind tunnel just to keep everything running smoothly. You will probably need a separate fan just in case.
For most of us, this level of dedication and investment is not worth it. It’s like buying a very expensive car just because it looks shiny, but forgetting all the expenses after buying it.
Alternative solutions
If you’re itching for a new GPU, or you simply want to upgrade because the current one can’t handle max settings or the FPS doesn’t align with the refresh rate of your monitor, at a fraction of the cost, you can get an RTX 4070 Ti that delivers stellar performance.
There’s also the secondhand market, which is still packed with “older” GPUs but will give the performance you are looking for without spending too much. RTX 30-series cards are still perfect for gamers on a budget.
Who will actually benefit from 5090?
GPU manufacturers have many target audiences, not only gamers. Rendering complex 3D models or scenes, or using it to train AI are hefty tasks and they require a lot of GPU power to be efficient. On the other hand, 8K gaming is on the horizon and this card might be worth it eventually. But for the average gamer, it’s a necessary investment.
Don’t buy the RTX 5090 yet!
NVIDIA is known for its very effective marketing strategy. With every new GPU launching, it feels like watching Steve Jobs talking about the earliest iPhone for the first time. It is designed to make you feel that your current setup is obsolete. Linus Tech Tips has already tested both RTX 4090 and 5090, and as expected, the participants couldn’t tell the difference between the two after a blind test.
FOMO (fear of missing out) is always there, used by companies in various industries to hype the benefits of upgrading and make the consumer think that they need to upgrade every cycle. And it works.
In addition, hardware prices tend to drop significantly after a few months from launching. Unless you want to pay a premium price and experience the early stages of GPU instability, bugs and compatibility issues, then it’s worth waiting. Seeing that AMD’s next-gen GPUs are also rumored to be just as good if not better than the announced NVIDIA recent card. So be patient.
In conclusion, while the new NVIDIA GPU card RTX 5090 is undeniably a beast, the cost, power consumption and diminishing returns for the casual or even the hardcore gamer make it hard to upgrade. Focusing on smart upgrades that will bring you value for your money without breaking the bank is what most of us should do until something drastic happens to the price, optimization…
It’s that time of the year when you will have to think twice before investing in a hyped card. Hold onto your current rig if you are satisfied with it. Patience will pay off.