RTX 5090 vs RTX 3090: What's the difference?

NVIDIA's ultimate GPU flagship, GeForce RTX 5090, is finally here, and like most PC enthusiasts, we are curious about how it compares to the previous gen.

With the recent launch of the RTX 50 series GPUs, it's a great opportunity for both PC builders and gamers to evaluate whether they should build a new system or upgrade their existing one, especially if you're still rocking a GPU from two generations back, such as the RTX 3090, which, by all accounts, is still a solid gaming graphics card.

This article is all about helping you figure out which is the better fit for your build, between RTX 5090 and RTX 3090. We'll highlight all the key information on both cards, making it easier for you to zero in on what works best for your gaming or creative needs. Whether you're thinking about pulling the trigger on the 5090 or just you're good cruising with the 3090 for now, we've got you covered.

The Nvidia RTX 5090 and the 3090 both offer the following outputs in the Founders Edition configurations:

• 1x HDMI 2.1a
• 3x DisplayPort 1.4a

You can connect 4 displays to one card. These can be 4 independent monitors at 4K resolution and at 120 Hz. When connecting 2 monitors at 4K resolution, the possible refresh rate is at 240 Hz for each monitor. Other configurations are possible depending on bandwidth. To find out more about compatibility, you need to check the technical specifications of the card you are purchasing.

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the performance difference between these two cards, let's do a quick refresher on the 3090 GPU. The RTX 3090 model was released on Sep 1st, 2020, and was the first model to come out of the 30 series cards. It was the king of the hill at that time due to the level of power that it took out two of the best GPUs of the previous generation, the Titan RTX and the RTX 2080 Ti. It can deliver impressive performance in 4K and run the latest Triple-A games in 8K at 60fps, even if it isn't flawless at that high resolution. That was the case until the 3090 Ti version was released 18 months later, which became the flagship Nvidia GPU as it is essentially an overclocked version of the 3090 card.

Fast-forward three years, and NVIDIA is about to change the PC market once again with its new GPU juggernaut, the RTX 5090. There was about a two-year gap between the first launch of the 30-Series graphics cards in 2020 and the initial release of the 40-Series cards in 2022. So, it was expected that a new GPU would be introduced; it was just a matter of timing. When is the best time to announce a new PC graphics card? There's no better occasion than CES.

And there you have it, feast your eyes. The RTX 5090, on paper at least. is an absolute beast on all levels All the speculations were right on the money after all; with a whooping MSRP of US$1,999, it's justifiable if you are building a new powerhouse gaming rig or if you are finally ready to take your gaming experience to the next level by saying goodbye to your aging 10-, 20- or even 30-Series graphics card.

The RTX 5090 is truly a one-of-one when it comes to performance. However, like any other hardware in this industry, great performance comes with a hefty price. Whether or not the performance is justifiable at an MSRP of US$1,999, at the end of the day, is your call. At such a high price, the 5090 clearly demonstrates why it is a halo product. If you're really into gaming and spend hours on end playing, or if you're tackling heavy tasks like video rendering or 3D animation on a PC that's seen better days, then the performance boost you'll get from the RTX 5090 card is definitely a total game changer.

The recommended power supply for the RTX 3090 GPU is 750W. A few years back, that was already considered on the mid to higher end of the spectrum due to its Ampere architecture and the fact that it has a large number of transistors on a single chip. But to be on the safe side, we recommend an 850W to give you some wiggle room, especially if you are pairing it with a powerful CPU.

As for the RTX 5090, like most NVIDIA flagship GPUs, the 5090 will require even more power than the previous generation. 5090's increased CUDA cores, higher clock speeds, improved ray tracing capabilities, and larger VRAM capacity will require a significant amount of wattage. The RTX 5090's TDP is 575W, which is not surprising given that it is designed to handle high-res gaming and complex 3D rendering. And the fact that it is currently the most powerful consumer GPU on the market alone is a clear indication that this card is going to demand a high amount of juice.

Most GPU vendors suggest that you have at least 1000W for the PSU when running the RTX 5090. To keep things running smoothly, it's always good practice to use a PSU that gives some headroom, especially if you're pairing your GPU with a powerful CPU. Going for a higher wattage can help avoid issues with power shortages and overheating, which makes for a more stable and efficient setup. Plus, you also need to account for other components in your system, such as fans, cooling, storage drives, lighting, etc., into the equation so you can select the correct PSU wattage for your build. With the growing power needs of high-end GPUs, having a reliable and well-built power supply is more important than ever. This trend looks like it's going to stick around with the next generation of GPUs. CORSAIR power supplies are built to handle these demands easily.

Power requirements can differ among graphics card models, so we recommend checking the specific requirements of your graphics card model and manufacturer.

Are you still trying to figure out how much power you need? Use our PSU Calculator for a more accurate recommendation based on your current setup.

The new RTX 5090 card will utilize the 12v-2x6 connector, which was first introduced with the 40-Series graphics cards. The addition of the 12VHPWR connectors and their compatible cables has greatly simplified the power requirements for modern GPUs. Before, users had to manage multiple cables to ensure sufficient power delivery, leading to complex configurations. With the 12VHPWR/12v-2x6 standard, users can now connect their graphics cards using a single, streamlined cable directly from the power supply. This change not only reduces cable clutter in the system but also makes installation easier and more efficient.