Nvidia RTX 5090 expected launch, specs, price, and more

The Nvidia RTX 5090 is expected to be the next Big Ferocious Graphics Processing Unit (BFGPU). It will likely push high-resolution gaming even further with improved ray tracing, better rasterization performance, and upscaling techniques.

We already know a ton about this still unannounced video card thanks to industry insiders and tipsters. According to expectations, we are barely two weeks away from the card's official introduction, which is supposedly slated for January 6, 2025.

In this article, we'll review everything known about the rumored 90-class flagship-grade offering and try to make some educated guesses about the final product.

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Expected specs of the Nvidia RTX 5090

The 5090 is expected to extend the 4090's lead in gaming performance (Image via Nvidia || Amazon)

The RTX 5090 should be filled to the brim with rendering hardware, much like the 4090 and the 3090 that came before it. The GPU will likely be powered by the flagship gaming GB202 chip, which is a cut-down version of the GB200 found on data center variants.

This chip is expected to be paired with a whopping 21,760 CUDA cores, up from the 16,384 found on the RTX 4090. Given how each individual core is getting more capable, this could translate to a serious performance uplift for the rumored BFGPU.

Multiple sources have pointed out that the new generation might have GDDR7 video memory and PCIe Gen 5.0 connectivity. Whether this will translate to more budget offerings remains to be seen. However, with the 5090 likely to be a flagship card, its chances of getting a better memory configuration are higher.

Moreover, the VRAM capacity might also be increased to 32 GB, up from the 24 GB capacity in the last couple of generations. Another thing that could go up this generation is TDP — industry insiders have suggested a 600W GPU, which might not be welcome.

Current leaks point at the following specs for the GPU:

	Nvidia RTX 5090
Graphics chip	GB202-300
CUDA cores	21,760
Streaming Multiprocessors (SMs)	170
PCIe interface	PCIe 5.0 x16
TDP	600W
Power design	16+6+7 Power Phase Design with a 1x 12V-2x6 (16-pin) connector
VRAM	32 GB
VRAM type	GDDR7

It seems like the still unannounced card is prepping to take the performance crown again this generation. Pulling off such a feat might not be difficult since both Intel and AMD have no plans of launching a high-end video card.

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When is the RTX 5090 expected to launch?

The RTX 5090 will likely be the first 50-series video card to hit the market if previous trends are anything to go by. The Santa Clara-based giant is expected to introduce the first wave of 50 series offerings at CES 2025, where Jensen Huang's keynote is scheduled for January 6 at 6.30 PM PT. Availability could begin at a later date.

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What is the expected price of the RTX 5090?

The RTX 5090 might be introduced at CES 2025 (Image via Nvidia)

The 5090's expected cost is an interesting topic to discuss. For the last couple of generations, Nvidia has stuck to the $1,500-1,600 range for their flagship card. With this generation, the card could target a similar price range. However, if the leaks are to materialize, they could directly translate into a serious bump in the MSRP.

Recently, leaks from a Chinese store pointed at a price leak for the 5090 and the 5080. The 90-class video card was found listed for RMB 18,999, which converts to an eye-watering $2,600. If this were to be true, the card could become the single most expensive gaming video card to ever launch.

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What is the expected performance of the RTX 5090?

Performance-wise, the 5090 will likely be a 4K gaming powerhouse, similar to the BFGPUs that came before it. The GPU could also push the boundaries of 8K gaming, which has been a talking point for Nvidia's flagships for the last two generations.

Given the serious performance uplifts, the card could target more than just gamers. The rumored fast 32 GB VRAM and CUDA core budget make it perfect for AI enthusiasts who want to toy around with mid-sized language models and train several lighter ones. Even if it targets the $2,600 price point, this would make it a great option for students and academia.