Everything we know about the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090

Phil Hayton
·6 min read
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 mock-up with navy mirrored backdrop.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 mock-up with navy mirrored backdrop.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 rumors are ramping up as we charge through 2024, and we're on hand to make sense of all the whispers. As the old saying goes, you shouldn't believe everything you read on the internet, which is why we like to delve deep into any next-gen graphics card leaks to figure out the facts about the green team's upcoming GPU range.

It sounds cliche, but it feels like only yesterday we crowned the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 as the best graphics card in terms of performance. Yet, here we are, about to dive into what a potential Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 could bring to your gaming PC. Even if we didn't have any rumors to go on, it's pretty much a given that the RTX 5000 series front runner will boost fps further than any card on the market right now, and knowing Nvidia, new AI upscaling abilities might even join the DLSS 3.5 roster.

It's worth hammering home that Nvidia hasn't announced any next gen GPU plans as of yet, and an eventual RTX 5090 release isn't a given. Even its name is merely as logical assumption, in the same way as you'd perhaps assume the next PlayStation will be the PS6. That said, the company has now officially announced its Blackwell GPU architecture, which is believed to be the same chip that'll end up inside the nest GeForce range. So, let's dive into everything we know about the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 right now.

RTX 5090 latest updates

Nov 15, 2023 - RTX 5000 series GPUs could come armed with DisplayPort 2.1

In response to questions relating to potential RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 ports, leaker Kopite7kimi has given the nod that the cards will come armed with DisplayPort 2.1.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 release date rumors

Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics card with green backdrop
Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics card with green backdrop

As of yet, Nvidia hasn't announced any plans to release either an RTX 5090 or a successor to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090. Typically, the GPU maker doesn't tend to reveal its hand in advance, with announcements lining up with product launches shortly after a reveal.

However, Nvidia has released a new graphics card every two years since 2012, meaning that if the company sticks with its current rhythm, a new GPU line-up could emerge in 2024. For reference, here's the launch pattern so far:

  • RTX 5000 (Blackwell) -  TBA

  • RTX 4000 (Lovelace) - October, 2022

  • RTX 3000 (Ampere) - May, 2020

  • RTX 2000 (Turing) -  September, 2018

  • RTX 1000 (Pascal) - May, 2016

  • RTX 900 (Maxwell) - February, 2014

  • RTX 800 (Kepler) - April, 2012

As for rumors, a release date roadmap spotted by HardwareLuxx suggests that an "Ada Lovelace successor" could launch in 2025. Potential placement on the graph implies the line-up would land at the start of next year, so while we could see a change to Nvidia's usual launch habits, we could still end up with an RTX 5090 at roughly the time we'd expect.

In addition, new reports by Money UDN suggest that both the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 will arrive in 2024. Specifically, the publication says that board partners have allegedly been told that Blackwell GPUs will show up in Q4, meaning they could release between October and November.

Reports by YouTuber Moore's Law is Dead also table the idea of the RTX 5090 being the only Blackwell card to arrive this year. However, fellow leaker Kopite7Kimi seems to think that the RTX 5080 will actually arrive before Nvidia's flagship offering. This could be a sign that the company is still trying to settle on a release date battleplan, and could even mean that the 80-class card could be first on the scene.

RTX 5090 specs rumors

Render of Nvidia GPU with green data lines
Render of Nvidia GPU with green data lines

We'll ultimately need to wait for Nvidia to release official RTX 5090 specs before knowing how it stacks against the RTX 4090. That's not to say insiders and leakers aren't keen to share teasers ahead of time, as rumors relating to the next gen graphics card's VRAM configuration are already surfacing.

Nvidia hasn't announced a a new generation of GeForce graphics cards, but the company has officially revealed its new Blackwell architecture. During a GTC Keynote, CEO Jensen Huang focussed on how the architecture will benefit the future of AI,  but the tech will likely serve as the foundation for next gen graphics solutions.

If insider insights provided by Kopite7kimi, are to be believed, the RTX 5090 will pair a Blackwell GB202 GPU with GDDR7 VRAM. The memory chips will seemingly run at 28 Gbps, beating current GDDR6X setups that offer up to 24 Gbps, but the standard can actually reach as a high as 48 Gbps.

Jensen Huang holding two Nvidia Blackwell GPUs
Jensen Huang holding two Nvidia Blackwell GPUs

The leaker also seems confident that the RTX 5090 will feature a 512-bit memory bus, but it's worth noting that they also previously hinted that a narrower 384-bit bus is on the cards. At this point, it's safe to assume Nvidia has yet to settle on final specs, so what we're likely hearing is two potential GDDR7 configurations that will ultimately line-up with other qualities like capacity.

Speaking of which, 3DCentre decently delved into GDDR7 capacity options, with capacity maxing out at 8GB per chip, with 64Gbit serving as a minimum density. It's safe to say that the RTX 5090 won't come armed with that much VRAM, and Kopite7kimi seems to think that we'll actually just end up with the same 16Gbit minimum configuration using 2GB modules.

As for ports, when asked whether cards like the RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 will feature DisplayPort 2.1, Kopite7kimi responded with confirming tick. If Nvidia's next gen GPUs do arrive with support for the video standard, it could mean we'll get a GeForce card with 8K 165Hz output, something that's already included with the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX released last year.

RTX 5090 price predictions

Nvidia GeForce graphics card with dark backdrop
Nvidia GeForce graphics card with dark backdrop

You're going to need to wait a while before hearing any RTX 5090 price information, especially since Nvidia is probably still deciding on specs. If you're simply looking to get a rough idea of how much your future gaming PC upgrade will set you back, however, RTX 4090 pricing may help you set a budget.

The RTX 4090 launched with an $1,599 / £1,579 MSRP, and we'd expect that to be what you'll roughly pay for a potential RTX 5090 successor. That's if Nvidia doesn't raise prices again, as there was a significant jump in cost between the current gen cards last last gen options like the GeForce RTX 3090, which launched with a $1,499 / £1,439 tag attached. Here's a rundown of flagship GPU prices over the years to paint an idea of what to expect:

  • RTX 5090 - TBA

  • RTX 4090 - $1,599 / £1,579

  • RTX 3090 - $1,499 / £1,439

  • RTX 2080 Ti - $1,199 / £1,099

  • GTX 1080 - $599 / £575

It's worth keeping in mind that various factors dictate GPU pricing, and you could argue that today's flagships are a completely different class to their successors. Also, if you end up opting for a custom card, chances are you'll pay far more than MSRP, in part due to the fact non Founder's Edition models feature custom coolers and factor overclocking.

Looking for a system that's ready to go? Check out the best gaming PC builds for high spec desktop solutions. Alternatively, swing by the best gaming laptop and best gaming handheld options for Steam machines you can take on the go.