Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 review: Fantastically, futuristically fast

Price When Reviewed

$1,599

Best Prices Today: GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition

$1599.99

Nvidia’s $1,599 GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card sports activities a luxurious price ticket, however you get a really luxurious gaming expertise in return.

Want face-melting body charges? The last-generation RTX 3090 was a velocity demon, however the GeForce RTX 4090—because of Nvidia’s new “Ada Lovelace” structure—screams by way of conventional video games as much as 83 p.c quicker. Nvidia’s 40-series flagship chews by way of futuristic ray-traced video games too, propelled by extra superior Third-gen RT cores and a radical new “Frame Generation” DLSS 3 characteristic that doubles (or extra) body charges but once more with a heaping serving to of AI.

It’s not nearly video games although. Creators will love the 24GB of blazing-fast GDDR6X reminiscence in relation to pixel-packed video renders, and Nvidia’s inclusion of not one, however two AV1 video encoders means the RTX 4090 is suitably outfitted to deal with the way forward for streaming.

Brad Chacos/IDG

No matter what you wish to accomplish, the monstrous GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition can deal with it with out breaking a sweat (although your pockets and energy provide would possibly, as all this further efficiency doesn’t come free). Let’s dig in.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 specs, options, and value

This first GPU of a brand new technology supplies our first glimpse at Nvidia’s new Ada Lovelace structure, working on a customized TSMC 4N (learn: fancy 5nm) course of. It’s a ferocious bounce. Before we begin, right here’s a high-level have a look at how the RTX 4090’s specs evaluate to prior-gen GeForce flagships (which amusingly all sport totally different tier classifications):

Nvidia

The leap from Samsung’s 8N course of to TSMC’s way more superior 4N course of can’t be understated. Last-generation’s full-fat RTX 3090 Ti packed 10,752 CUDA graphics cores and 28.3 billion transistors into a large 628.4mm die. The new RTX 4090 ups that to a ridiculous 16,384 CUDA cores and 76.3 billion transistors on a smaller die. Thanks, TSMC!

But Nvidia labored its magic too. While the bones of the Ada Lovelace structure don’t stray that wildly from last-gen’s Ampere design—although there’s much more of every thing—Nvidia made some key tweaks to push efficiency even additional. One instance is a brand new Shader Execution Reordering operate, which teams and schedules comparable shading work on the fly. It boosts efficiency in video games working historically rasterized graphics, positive, however accelerates ray tracing much more.

Enhancing ray tracing efficiency was clearly a spotlight for Nvidia with the RTX 4090. The Ada Lovelace structure upgrades to third-generation RT cores and fourth-gen tensor AI cores, all quicker and extra environment friendly than earlier than. They’re augmented by a beefed-up Optical Flow Accelerator that, in tandem with the tensor cores, unlocks DLSS 3 and its new Frame Generation characteristic. Nvidia’s DLSS 2 already stood robust because the gold normal for picture upscaling, however DLSS 3 goes even additional by utilizing tensor cores to create absolutely AI-created frames that slot in between historically rendered frames, which might drastically improve efficiency—even in CPU sure video games, because of the best way it really works.

It all provides up. Without ray tracing lively, the RTX 3090 may run Cyberpunk 2077 at 48 frames per second. The RTX 4090 will get 77fps out of the gate however flipping on DLSS 3 lets it soar all the best way to 138fps—and that’s with strenuous ray tracing results lively. It’s tremendously spectacular. There are some key DLSS 3 particulars to concentrate on, although. We’ll dive a lot deeper into DLSS 3 and ray tracing later in our efficiency benchmarks.

Intel beat Nvidia to the AV1 encoding punch with its debut Arc graphics cards—that are additionally launching on October 12, alongside the RTX 4090—however Nvidia is taking the futuristic video expertise a step additional by integrating two AV1 encoders into its new NVENC media engine. Nvidia says its AV1 encoding implementation is 40 p.c extra environment friendly than its already best-in-class H.264 encoding, and our deep-dive into Arc’s AV1 encoding goes into what this implies for the way forward for streaming video.

Other, extra conventional metrics additionally improved. In addition to Ada packing in merely extra of every thing, clock speeds improved dramatically, to a 2,520MHz rated Boost Clock (although the RTX 4090 can dynamically clock a lot increased than that in video games). That’s roughly 700MHz quicker than the 3090 Ti. The new RTX 4090 additionally integrates the quicker 21Gbps GGDR6X reminiscence modules launched within the 3090 Ti, letting the RTX 4090’s 24GB of reminiscence blaze alongside at over a terabyte of general reminiscence bandwidth each second. Cue Keanu Reeves: Whoa.

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

Adding all these capabilities requires extra energy, nonetheless. While the GeForce RTX 4090 ostensibly packs the identical 450W complete graphics energy score because the 3090 Ti, real-world energy use is available in a bit increased, and Nvidia adopted the brand new 12VHPWR 16-pin cable for ATX 3.0 power supplies, which is designed to deal with increased GPU energy wants. You don’t want a brand new ATX 3.0 energy provide to run the 4090, nonetheless (although you want an 850W minimal PSU). Nvidia features a 12VHPWR 16-pin adapter within the field that hooks as much as 4 conventional 8-pin energy connectors—three necessary, with the fourth required for overclocking endeavors.

Brad Chacos/IDG

It works, but it surely’s an unpleasant kludge round an in any other case sterling Founders Edition design. Corsair despatched us its HX1500i power supply and non-compulsory $20 12VHPWR 600 cable for testing, and utilizing that native cable versus the adapter seems way more aesthetically pleasing. If your PSU producer gives a 12VHPWR cable for an affordable value, I extremely advocate leaping on it. You don’t need your $1,600 graphics card wanting janky in spite of everything.

Brad Chacos/IDG

Nvidia’s “new” Founders Edition design largely mirrors the RTX 30-series aesthetic and push-pull “flow through” cooling system. That’s factor. These metal-clad playing cards look excellent, albeit large. Nvidia tweaked issues underneath the hood to enhance cooling efficiency for this supremely highly effective graphics card, nonetheless. The GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition sports activities greater followers with fluid dynamic bearings now, paired with a taller, redesigned heatfin stack. Nvidia claims the RTX 4090 FE “delivers the highest airflow ever measured in a discrete Nvidia GPU, achieving 15 percent more airflow than an RTX 3090 at the same acoustic level.” In apply, the RTX 4090 FE runs completely cool and completely quiet. It rocks.

Brad Chacos/IDG

Of course, the GeForce RTX 4090 helps Nvidia’s killer software program stack, from NVENC to Broadcast to Shadowplay to Nvidia Reflex (which is definitely a core element of DLSS 3). Software and options stay a key energy for GeForce, particularly in distinction to Intel’s spotty debut Arc drivers.

But sufficient discuss. Let’s get to the benchmarks. Giddy-up.

Our take a look at system

We take a look at graphics playing cards on a top-of-the-line AMD Ryzen 5900X PC used completely for benchmarking GPUs. One new tweak for the beginning of this GPU technology: We’ll now take a look at with PCIe Resizable BAR (also referred to as Smart Access Memory on Ryzen methods) lively, as most trendy gaming PCs launched within the final 4 years assist the performance-boosting characteristic, both natively or by way of a motherboard firmware replace. Nvidia additionally recommends turning on the non-compulsory “Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling” choice in Windows to let the RTX 40-series stretch its legs to the fullest, so we’ve made that tweak as properly. Most of the {hardware} was supplied by the producers, however we bought the storage ourselves. Special because of Corsair, which despatched us a HX1500i power supply and non-compulsory $20 12VHPWR 600 cable for testing the Founders Edition.  

We’re evaluating the $1,599 GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition in opposition to its direct predecessor, the $1,500 GeForce RTX 3090 Founders Edition, in addition to AMD’s rival Radeon RX 6900 XT, which launched at $1,000 however supplied comparable efficiency to the 3090 in rasterized video games. Nvidia and AMD each launched extra highly effective variants of these GPUs, within the type of the RTX 3090 Ti and Radeon RX 6950 XT, however we don’t have these graphics playing cards on-hand for direct comparability with new drivers.  

In addition to turning on PCIe Resizable BAR by default, we’re additionally shifting to a brand new set of video games in our testing suite. We take a look at quite a lot of video games spanning numerous engines, genres, vendor sponsorships (Nvidia, AMD, and Intel), and graphics APIs (DirectX 9, 11, DX12, and Vulkan), to attempt to characterize a full vary of efficiency potential. Each sport is examined utilizing its in-game benchmark, sanity checked by Nvidia’s FrameView tool, on the highest attainable graphics presets except in any other case famous, with VSync, body charge caps, real-time ray tracing or DLSS results, and FreeSync/G-Sync disabled, together with some other vendor-specific applied sciences like FidelityFX instruments or Nvidia Reflex. We’ve additionally enabled temporal anti-aliasing (TAA) to push these playing cards to their limits. We run every benchmark at the very least 3 times and record the typical end result for every take a look at.

Gaming efficiency benchmarks

Esports and older APIs

Let’s kick issues off with a pair of ultra-popular esports video games, and a tactical technique sport working on DX11.

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

The GeForce RTX 4090 is so quick that it may well generally run into CPU bottlenecks even enjoying at 4K decision with the attention sweet maxed in some video games, however esports video games and older DirectX 11 titles don’t essentially push it to its blistering limits. The 4090 is simply 36 p.c quicker than the 3090 in Total War: Troy—a stable end result, however one dwarfed by the advances in DX12 and Vulkan video games. Likewise, whereas the RTX 4090 simply tops the CS:GO benchmark charts, the meager body charge enhancements at 4K and 1080p present that this long-established DirectX 9 title doesn’t have way more to provide to Ada Lovelace’s would possibly.

Rainbow Six Siege working on the trendy Vulkan API reveals a way more substantial uplift—working 64 p.c quicker than the RTX 3090 at 4K—and consists of Nvidia’s latency-dropping Reflex expertise to make it much more responsive. Notice the onerous engine or CPU bottleneck it hits at 1440p decision (and maybe even 4K) nonetheless.

DX12 and Vulkan

That Vulkan uplift holds true once we widen our scope to look at quite a lot of Vulkan and DX12 video games.

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

Here, the GeForce RTX 4090 frequently performs round 55 to 60 p.c quicker than its predecessor at 4K decision, however that may climb as much as as excessive as 83 p.c quicker in notably pleasant video games like Hitman 3 and F1 22. Gears Tactics runs 67 p.c quicker on the 4090, but it surely may’ve been much more in concept—the sport wound up being CPU-bound 7 p.c of the time whereas working the benchmark, a feat you don’t see typically at 4K/Ultra. The GeForce RTX 4090 is that quick.

GeForce RTX 4090: Ray tracing benchmarks

Nvidia invested closely in boosting Ada Lovelace’s ray tracing chops, equipping it with new Shader Execution Reordering capabilities, third-gen RT cores, fourth-gen tensor AI (DLSS) cores, and an Optical Flow Accelerator to supercharge DLSS 3’s efficiency uplift.

We’ll dig into DLSS 3 subsequent, however first, we wished to dig into the RTX 4090’s uncooked ray tracing efficiency. Intel’s debut Arc GPUs function at a a lot decrease stage of uncooked energy, being roughly $300 graphics playing cards, however their first crack at ray tracing effectivity managed to surpass the second-gen RT cores in Nvidia’s RTX 30-series. Nvidia’s Lovelace upgrades claws the crown again.

To reveal Lovelace’s prowess, the charts under present the uncooked efficiency of the RTX 4090, 3090, and Radeon RX 6900 XT within the chosen video games with ray tracing off, to get a baseline. Next, we present efficiency with any and all accessible ray tracing results lively and set to extremely. The vital factor to notice right here is how these ray-traced body charges evaluate proportionally to the sport working with RT off, which reveals how environment friendly every GPU’s uncooked ray tracing capabilities are. (If a sport runs at 100fps with ray tracing off, and two totally different GPUs run the sport with ray tracing on at 50fps and 25fps, for instance, the previous GPU gives higher uncooked ray tracing chops).

Finally, since ray tracing sends body charges plummeting, pairing it with some kind of picture upscaling expertise (like Nvidia’s DLSS, AMD’s FSR 2, and Intel’s XeSS) is a necessity. We’ve additionally included efficiency metrics with DLSS working in balanced mode on Nvidia GPUs to point out the kind of full-stack ray tracing efficiency you’ll see in the true world. (Nvidia doesn’t permit DLSS to run on rival graphics playing cards, so the AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT is represented by a zero within the DLSS measurements.) Running DLSS in Performance or Ultra Performance mode would lead to even increased body charges, however with doubtlessly extra picture oddities. We just like the stability of velocity and constancy that DLSS Balanced supplies.

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

We’ve additionally included a efficiency chart displaying Red Dead Redemption 2 efficiency with DLSS Balanced on the varied Nvidia GPUs. That sport lacks ray tracing, however these outcomes can present us if Ada Lovelace’s new fourth-gen tensor cores are extra environment friendly than their predecessor.

Brad Chacos/IDG

No surprises right here: Nvidia kickstarted the ray tracing revolution and has invested closely within the ecosystem, and the RTX 4090 suitably smashes all comers. It can run Hitman 3 with ray tracing maxed-out whereas nonetheless surpassing 60 frames per second even at 4K, and that’s with out DLSS working by any means. Turn on DLSS and you’ll play Cyberpunk 2077 with all its fantastically strenuous ray tracing results tuned to extremely at a blistering 84fps tempo at 4K. Even with ray tracing off, the last-gen RTX 3090 can’t crack 50fps at Ultra settings.

The GeForce RTX 4090 and Ada Lovelace make enjoying ray traced video games sensible—but it surely’s DLSS 3 that gives some actually particular sauce.

DLSS 3 Frame Generation: Using AI to supercharge speeds

Finally, the true feather in Nvidia’s cap: DLSS 3. Introduced alongside the RTX 40-series, DLSS 3 builds atop the framework already constructed by Nvidia’s current options to massively speed up efficiency with the assistance of AI-generated frames. It’s a radical and thrilling new expertise, able to rushing up even CPU-bound video games, although there are caveats price figuring out.

Nvidia’s first two generations of DLSS have been a binary characteristic. You may select from totally different high quality presets, after all, however at its bones DLSS has been both on or off. That modifications with DLSS 3, which really consists of three totally different options: DLSS Super Sampling, DLSS Frame Generation, and Nvidia Reflex. Turning on DLSS in a sport that helps DLSS 3—Nvidia already introduced 35 DLSS 3 video games coming down the pipe—reveals choices for all three of these complementary options.

DLSS Super Resolution is straightforward. It’s DLSS. Turning it on reveals the standard Quality, Balanced, Performance, and Ultra Performance choices. DLSS (and all upsampling options) works by having the GPU render a body at a decrease decision, then upsampling it to suit your monitor’s decision, utilizing software program tips that fluctuate by implementation. Since your GPU is internally rendering, say, a 1080p picture fairly than a full 4K picture, efficiency soars. DLSS, AMD’s FSR 2, and Intel’s XeSS applied sciences all ship comparable sufficient outcomes, with AMD managing to carry out the identical tips with out the assistance of devoted AI {hardware}.

But AMD has no reply for DLSS Frame Generation, DLSS 3’s secret sauce. DLSS 3 leverages the RTX 4090’s tensor cores and Ada Lovelace’s superior Optical Flow Sensor to create absolutely AI-generated frames, interspersed between each different GPU-rendered body.

If you’re utilizing DLSS Super Resolution to upscale a sport from 1080p to 4K, and activate Frame Generation, just one out of each eight pixels proven in a pair of frames have been really rendered on the GPU shaders, which clearly supercharges efficiency. “The DLSS Frame Generation convolutional autoencoder takes 4 inputs – current and prior game frames, an optical flow field generated by Ada’s Optical Flow Accelerator, and game engine data such as motion vectors and depth,” to work its magic, Nvidia’s DLSS 3 introductory page states. It’s extremely beneficial studying if you would like extra nitty-gritty particulars on how DLSS 3 capabilities.

Nvidia

These AI frames are absolutely generated by the tensor cores, utilizing the above inputs to tell the output. Digital Foundry carried out an early body by body evaluation on DLSS 3 and located some visible inconsistencies in these alternating AI frames, however with the screaming body charges DLSS 3 Frame Generation supplies, I didn’t see any abnormalities in motion whereas tooling round in Cyberpunk 2077 and Microsoft Flight Simulator. You really want to hunt and pixel peep to see any weirdness, although because of the approach DLSS Frame Generation works, the impact may be extra pronounced in fast-paced video games with plenty of digital camera movement.

Dropping AI frames between rendered frames accomplishes two issues. First, it sends body charges screaming, as you see in our benchmarks under. But since these AI frames are generated utterly on the tensor cores, with none enter from the remainder of your PC wanted, it may well additionally supercharge efficiency even in CPU-bound video games, which usually stall out as a result of your CPU can’t sustain. Flight Simulator is notoriously CPU-bound, however activating DLSS 3 Frame Generation immediately doubled our body charges.

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

Yes, with DLSS 3, you possibly can really play Flight Sim at a wonderful 120Hz on a 4K show. Droooool. And for extra context to the Cyberpunk 2077 slide, the RTX 3090 “only” managed to get about 48 frames per second at 4K with RT Ultra and DLSS 2 Super Resolution lively.

But right here’s the factor: Weaving in these AI-generated frames additionally creates CPU backpressure and might really add extra latency, lowering responsiveness. The AI frames make your sport look buttery easy, however throughout these frames, the sport isn’t really responding to your inputs, because the GPU and CPU aren’t doing the work. To fight this, Nvidia mandates DLSS 3 video games to additionally assist Nvidia Reflex.

Originally launched as a option to cut back latency and enhance responsiveness in esports video games, Reflex zeroes out a sport’s render queue, lowering CPU backpressure by telling it to provide frames to the GPU in a just-in-time foundation. Because the CPU isn’t underneath stress to provide a render queue, it may well preserve an eye fixed out for mouse clicks till the final attainable second, too. Our testing discovered it ferociously efficient. Pairing Reflex with DLSS Frame Generation helps preserve responsiveness largely similar and might even decrease latency versus native efficiency in some video games. It’s a pleasant combo, and I’m pumped to see DLSS 3 drag Reflex kicking and screaming right into a a lot wider arsenal of video games.

That mentioned, whereas the DLSS 3 expertise shines, it doesn’t all the time really feel extra responsive in your arms. Running Cyberpunk 2077 at 138fps with each attainable bell and whistle lively because of DLSS 3 seems completely beautiful, full cease. But one of many perks of quicker body charges is elevated responsiveness, and whereas Reflex significantly helps with that, Cyberpunk 2077 working at 138fps doesn’t really feel considerably extra responsive than working it on the 77fps or so it hits in native 4K. Having twice as many frames seems implausible however these AI frames aren’t responding to your controls within the precise second, although it’s shut.

This just isn’t a adverse. This just isn’t a downside. It can’t be after working Flight Sim at 120fps, and Cyberpunk 2077 with extremely ray tracing at 138fps (the RTX 3090 tops out at 48fps). But it’s price highlighting. DLSS 3 work stunningly in these slower-paced video games we’ve tried, however in the event you’re on the lookout for most responsiveness from sweaty aggressive titles, you’d in all probability be higher off disabling Frame Generation whereas activating Reflex and DLSS Super Resolution.

We have to spend way more time testing DLSS 3 Frame Generation in motion earlier than we make extra concrete suggestions. If you’re inclined to take action your self, a brand new iteration of Nvidia’s implausible FrameView benchmarking instrument consists of new easy-to-read averages for 0.1 p.c lows and general PC latency, along with the standard stats. An spectacular 35 video games have already pledged to assist DLSS 3, and Nvidia despatched over the next notes about launch timing in particular video games:

• Super People: Early Access accessible at 10p.m. PT October 11 with DLSS 3
• Loopmancer: Updates with DLSS 3 on October 12
• Justice ‘Fuyun Court’: New graphics showcase accessible on October 12 with DLSS 3
• Microsoft Flight Simulator: Launches in beta for Xbox Insider program members on October 17 with DLSS 3
• A Plague Tale: Requiem: Launches October 18 with DLSS 3

Power and thermals

We take a look at energy draw by looping the F1 22 benchmark at 4K for about 20 minutes after we’ve benchmarked every thing else (to heat up the GPU) and noting the best studying on our Watts Up Pro meter, which measures the facility consumption of our complete take a look at system. The preliminary a part of the race, the place all competing automobiles are onscreen concurrently, tends to be essentially the most demanding portion. 

This isn’t a worst-case take a look at; this can be a GPU-bound sport working at a GPU-bound decision to gauge efficiency when the graphics card is sweating onerous. If you’re enjoying a sport that additionally hammers the CPU, you would see increased general system energy attracts. Consider your self warned.

Brad Chacos/IDG

The RTX 3090 used a number of energy. The GeForce RTX 4090 and its swanky new 12VHPWR energy cable makes use of much more. No surprises there. You don’t purchase a graphics card like this in the event you’re frightened about vitality use, you purchase it for peak efficiency.

We take a look at thermals by leaving GPU-Z open in the course of the F1 22 energy draw take a look at, noting the best most temperature on the finish.

Brad Chacos/IDG

Nvidia’s ultra-thick, metal-clad Founders Edition design shines but once more. Despite having to tame an unprecedented quantity of uncooked energy, the RTX 4090 FE stays whisper quiet and runs ultra-cool.

Should you purchase the GeForce RTX 4090?

Probably not. Most folks shouldn’t spend $1,600 on a graphics card, similar to they shouldn’t spend a whole lot of hundreds of {dollars} on a Lambo. Lambos exist for a motive, nonetheless. If you need peak efficiency regardless of the worth, you’ll be spectacularly happy with the GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition. This is the primary graphics card able to maxing out a 120Hz 4K monitor in lots of trendy video games—a monumental achievement.

The GeForce RTX 4090 embarrasses all earlier GPU contenders in all video games, full cease. The uplift isn’t fairly as convincing in esports and DirectX11 titles, however the victories are there, and in video games working the extra trendy DX12 and Vulkan APIs, the RTX 4090 is wherever from 55 to 83 p.c quicker than the RTX 3090. That’s on par with the RTX 3080’s uplift over the RTX 2080. This GPU is so quick, we witnessed some video games affected by CPU bottlenecks even at graphics-heavy 4K decision. It screams. Dropping right down to 1440p leads to nonetheless sterling, however much less spectacular generational outcomes, because the 4090’s would possibly leads to extra CPU and sport engine bottlenecks on the decrease decision. You actually wish to purchase this to be used with a 4K or ultrawide monitor with a blazing-fast refresh charge. If you might have a 60Hz 4K monitor, or a 1440p monitor, prior-gen GPUs nonetheless ship loads of oomph for lots much less cash.

Ray tracing is the place the GeForce RTX 4090 actually shines. Nvidia’s Ada Lovelace structure was optimized for these futuristic lighting results, and the RTX 4090 can play 4K video games with each graphics setting—RT and in any other case—cranked to 11 whereas properly shattering the hallowed 60 frames per second mark at 4K with DLSS enabled. Again, that’s a monumental achievement.

Brad Chacos/IDG

And DLSS 3’s wondrous AI Frame Generation characteristic can ship body charges hovering even increased in video games that assist it, though it doesn’t all the time make video games really feel proportionally extra responsive. Cyberpunk 2077 runs at 48 frames per second with DLSS lively on last-gen’s RTX 3090; on the RTX 4090 with DLSS 3 Frame Gen lively, it hits a blistering 138fps. That’s almost 3 times as quick and an unequalled visible expertise. Other GPUs hover round 60fps in Microsoft Flight Simulator because of its CPU bottlenecking, however DLSS Frame Gen doubles that. We’ll have to see if Frame Gen’s constancy and responsiveness holds up over a wider unfold of video games, however in these early days, DLSS 3 works like black magic. It’s fantastic and coming quickly to 35 video games. Nvidia is doing spectacular stuff with its software program options than AMD has but to match.

We’re aiming to have a separate examination of the RTX 4090’s content material chops within the coming days, however creators will love this factor, similar to they did the RTX 3090. The 24GB of ultra-fast GDDR6X reminiscence paired with twin AV1 encoders will make quick work of rendering and encoding duties.

Power draw went up a bit this technology, and also you’ll want to make use of a brand new 12VHPWR energy cable, but it surely’s worthwhile for this efficiency. Price went up barely too, with the RTX 4090 costing $100 greater than its predecessor. That stings however appears cheap sufficient for this flagship GPU after years of inflation and pandemic-related provide woes. Nvidia’s superior Founders Edition cooler returns in barely revamped type. It’s large but cool, quiet, and extremely engaging. The Founders Edition is so interesting it makes it tougher to advocate customized designs.

Bottom line? The GeForce RTX 4090 is an absolute monster, delivering dominating efficiency constructed for the way forward for video games and content material creation. It’s not good, however the few delicate drawbacks it has are much less “flaws” and extra “just what you have to deal with for this much speed.” If you’re keen to spend $1,600 on a graphics card, the GeForce RTX 4090 supplies the luxurious gaming expertise you’re on the lookout for—and if DLSS 3 positive aspects traction, it may very well be a lot quicker in time.

It’s a goliath begin to Nvidia’s Ada Lovelace technology. AMD’s RDNA 3 Radeon GPUs can have their work reduce out for them once they’re revealed on November 3.