# RTX 5090 vs. RTX 4090: An In-Depth Examination of Nvidia’s Latest Flagship GPU
During CES 2025 in Las Vegas, Nvidia launched the eagerly awaited GeForce RTX 5090, heralded as the leader of the RTX 50 series. This unveiling has ignited considerable excitement, as both enthusiasts and industry professionals are keen to evaluate how the RTX 5090 stacks up against its forerunner, the RTX 4090. Although the spotlight has largely been on improvements in ray tracing and the novel DLSS 4 technology, this article focuses on the base rasterization performance and specifications of the RTX 5090, providing insights into its gaming and computational prowess.
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## **RTX 5090 vs. RTX 4090: Specifications Overview**
The RTX 5090 brings considerable enhancements across various dimensions, from core count to memory bandwidth. Below is a direct comparison of the principal specifications:
| **Specification** | **RTX 5090** | **RTX 4090** |
|——————————|————————-|————————-|
| **Graphics Chip** | GB202-300 | AD102-300 |
| **Cores** | 21,760 | 16,384 |
| **Clock Speed (Base/Boost)** | 2,017/2,407 MHz | 2,235/2,520 MHz |
| **Memory** | 32 GB GDDR7 (512-bit) | 24 GB GDDR6X (384-bit) |
| **Memory Transfer Rate** | 28 Gbps | 21 Gbps |
| **Memory Bandwidth** | 1,792 GB/s | 1,008 GB/s |
| **Power Consumption** | 575 Watts | 450 Watts |
### **Main Insights:**
1. **Core Count and Architecture:** The RTX 5090 features a 32.8% increase in cores over the RTX 4090, totaling 21,760 CUDA cores. This growth indicates a significant boost in raw computing power, particularly for rasterization activities.
2. **Memory and Bandwidth:** With 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit interface, the RTX 5090 achieves an impressive 1,792 GB/s memory bandwidth—77.8% greater than the RTX 4090. This advancement is vital for managing high-resolution textures and models, especially in 4K and 8K gaming contexts.
3. **Power Consumption:** The power requirement for the RTX 5090 has risen to 575 Watts, marking a 28% increase from the RTX 4090. Users might need to consider upgrading their power supplies to support the new GPU.
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## **Theoretical Computing Power: Analyzing TFLOPS**
### **Core Count and Clock Speeds**
The RTX 5090, with its 21,760 cores and 2,407 MHz boost clock, achieves a theoretical peak output of **104.8 TFLOPS**. In comparison, the RTX 4090 reaches **82.6 TFLOPS**. This translates to a 26.9% enhancement in theoretical processing capacity.
### **The Relevance of TFLOPS (and Their Constraints)**
While TFLOPS serve as a valuable measure for comparing GPUs, they are not the sole factor influencing real-world performance. Improvements in architecture, software enhancements, and memory bandwidth significantly impact outcomes. Nevertheless, considering that both the RTX 5090 and RTX 4090 are built on a similar architectural foundation, the TFLOPS figure remains a useful gauge of comparative performance.
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## **Rasterization Performance: A Potential 20-30% Improvement?**
Regarding rasterization—the technique of rendering 3D visuals without ray tracing—the RTX 5090 is projected to provide a **20-30% performance boost** compared to the RTX 4090. This forecast coincides with the increases in core count, memory bandwidth, and TFLOPS.
### **Gaming at 4K and Higher**
The RTX 5090’s superior memory bandwidth and increased VRAM capacity position it exceptionally for gaming at both 4K and 8K resolutions. These enhancements ensure that the GPU can efficiently process the substantial data loads needed for high-resolution textures and intricate scenes without experiencing bottlenecks.
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## **DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation: A Revolutionary Feature**
A standout capability of the RTX 5090 is its compatibility with **DLSS 4**, which features **Multi Frame Generation**. This innovative technology can produce up to three intermediate frames for every native frame, leading to as much as **8x more frames per second** compared to native rendering.
### **Advantages:**
– **Increased Frame Rates:** Multi Frame Generation considerably elevates FPS, making challenging games more enjoyable at extremely high resolutions.
– **Improved Visual Quality:** DLSS 4 enhances visual fidelity by utilizing advanced techniques to optimize gaming performance.