G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

GeForce RTX 4090 vs GeForce RTX 5090 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

GeForce RTX 4090 vs GeForce RTX 5090: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

GeForce RTX 4090

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $400 less on MSRP ($1,599 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
✅Delivers 22.6% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 23.8 vs 19.4 G3D/$ ($1,599 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
✅Draws 450W instead of 575W, a 125W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 5090 across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 24 GB vs 32 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (512 vs 680), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌GeForce RTX 5090 is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.

GeForce RTX 5090

2025

Why buy it

✅0.3% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅32.8% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (680 vs 512).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (32 GB vs 24 GB).
✅Better long-term bet: Blackwell 2.0 (2025−2026) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌
25% HIGHER MSRP
$1,999 MSRPvs$1,599 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 19.4 vs 23.8 G3D/$ ($1,999 MSRP vs $1,599 MSRP).
❌27.8% higher power demand at 575W vs 450W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 5090 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 0.3% in average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 2% in PassMark G3D (38,867 vs 38,112), so the answer here is pretty clean.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce RTX 5090 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 32 GB vs 24 GB of VRAM, the newer feature stack, with DLSS 4 Super Resolution (2025) and DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025) instead of DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (2023) and DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023), 170 vs 128 ray-tracing units, and a newer 2025 generation instead of 2022. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce RTX 4090 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $400 cheaper on MSRP at $1,599 vs $1,999, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 22.6% (23.8 vs 19.4), which is enough to swing the recommendation its way. If you are mainly targeting 1440p and 4K, GeForce RTX 4090 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1440p and 4K headroom, GeForce RTX 5090 has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce RTX 4090 vs GeForce RTX 5090 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

GeForce RTX 4090

The GeForce RTX 4090 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 20 2022. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 2235 MHz to 2520 MHz. It has 16384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 450W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 128 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 38,112 points. Launch price was $1,599.

GeForce RTX 5090

The GeForce RTX 5090 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 30 2025. It features the Blackwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 2017 MHz to 2407 MHz. It has 21760 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 575W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 170 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 38,867 points. Launch price was $1,999.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce RTX 4090 scores 38,112 and the GeForce RTX 5090 reaches 38,867 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce RTX 4090 is built on Ada Lovelace while the GeForce RTX 5090 uses Blackwell 2.0, both on a 5 nm process. Shader units: 16,384 (GeForce RTX 4090) vs 21,760 (GeForce RTX 5090). Raw compute: 82.58 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4090) vs 104.8 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 5090). Boost clocks: 2520 MHz vs 2407 MHz. Ray tracing: 128 RT cores (GeForce RTX 4090) vs 170 (GeForce RTX 5090) with 512 Tensor cores vs 680.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4090	GeForce RTX 5090
G3D Mark Score	38,112	38,867+2%
Architecture	Ada Lovelace	Blackwell 2.0
Process Node	5 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	16384	21760+33%
Compute (TFLOPS)	82.58 TFLOPS	104.8 TFLOPS+27%
Boost Clock	2520 MHz+5%	2407 MHz
ROPs	176	176
TMUs	512	680+33%
L1 Cache	16 MB	21.3 MB+33%
L2 Cache	72 MB	96 MB+33%
Ray Tracing Cores	128	170+33%
Tensor Cores	512	680+33%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Both cards support Frame Generation, but the GeForce RTX 5090 is on the newer stack with DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation, while the GeForce RTX 4090 stays on DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation.The GeForce RTX 5090 supports the newer DLSS 4 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 4090 is capped at DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4090	GeForce RTX 5090
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution	DLSS 4 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation	DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation+14%
Ray Reconstruction	Yes (DLSS 3.5)	Yes (DLSS 4)+14%
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 4090 has 24 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 5090 carries 32 GB. GeForce RTX 5090 gives you 33.3% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 1008 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4090) vs 1792 GB/s (GeForce RTX 5090) — a 77.8% advantage for the GeForce RTX 5090. Memory bus width is 384-bit on the GeForce RTX 4090 and 512-bit on the GeForce RTX 5090. L2 Cache: 72 MB (GeForce RTX 4090) vs 96 MB (GeForce RTX 5090) — the GeForce RTX 5090 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4090	GeForce RTX 5090
VRAM Capacity	24 GB	32 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR6X	GDDR7
Memory Bandwidth	1008 GB/s	1792 GB/s+78%
Bus Width	384-bit	512-bit+33%
L2 Cache	72 MB	96 MB+33%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4090) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 5090). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4090	GeForce RTX 5090
DirectX	12.2	12.2
Vulkan	1.3	1.4+8%
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: 8th Gen NVENC (2x) (GeForce RTX 4090) vs 9th Gen NVENC (2x) (GeForce RTX 5090). Decoder: 5th Gen NVDEC vs 6th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4090) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 5090).

Feature	GeForce RTX 4090	GeForce RTX 5090
Encoder	8th Gen NVENC (2x)	9th Gen NVENC (2x)
Decoder	5th Gen NVDEC	6th Gen NVDEC
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 4090 draws 450W versus the GeForce RTX 5090's 575W — a 24.4% difference. The GeForce RTX 4090 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 1000W (GeForce RTX 4090) vs 1000W (GeForce RTX 5090). Power connectors: 16-pin (12VHPWR) vs 16-pin (12VHPWR). Card length: 304mm vs 304mm, occupying 3 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 85°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 4090	GeForce RTX 5090
TDP	450W-22%	575W
Recommended PSU	1000W	1000W
Power Connector	16-pin (12VHPWR)	16-pin (12VHPWR)
Length	304mm	304mm
Height	137mm	137mm
Slots	3	2-33%
Temp (Load)	80°C-6%	85°C
Perf/Watt	84.7+25%	67.6

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 4090 came in at $1599, while the GeForce RTX 5090 launched at $1999. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 4090 was 20% cheaper ($400 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 23.8 (GeForce RTX 4090) vs 19.4 (GeForce RTX 5090) — the GeForce RTX 4090 offers 22.7% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 5090 (2025 vs 2022).

Feature	GeForce RTX 4090	GeForce RTX 5090
MSRP	$1599-20%	$1999
Performance per Dollar	23.8+23%	19.4
Codename	AD102	GB202
Release	September 20 2022	January 30 2025
Ranking	#4	#3

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