RTX 5080 vs RTX 4090: Which Should You Buy?
Head-to-head on performance, VRAM, power and value for 2026.
Quick Summary · TL;DR
On our relative performance index the RTX 4090 leads the RTX 5080 by about 5% — a small gap. The RTX 4090 has more VRAM (24GB vs 16GB), which helps at high resolutions and in VRAM-hungry titles.
| RTX 5080 | RTX 4090 | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance index | 86/100 | 90/100 |
| VRAM | 16GB | 24GB |
| Board power (TBP) | 360W | 450W |
| Recommended PSU | 850W | 1000W |
| Power connector | 16-pin 12V-2x6 | 16-pin 12VHPWR |
| Generation | RTX 50 | RTX 40 |
Relative gaming index — an estimate of typical performance. Real-world gaps vary by game, resolution and settings.
Which should you buy?
Buy the RTX 4090 if you want the higher frame rate and can find it at a fair price. Choose the RTX 5080 if it is clearly cheaper and its 16GB+ of VRAM and features cover your target resolution. Both are from a similar lineage, so price is the main deciding factor.
Power planning: RTX 5080 PSU · RTX 4090 PSU.
Frequently asked questions
Is the RTX 5080 better than the RTX 4090?
On our relative index the RTX 4090 is about 5% ahead of the RTX 5080. The RTX 4090 has more VRAM (24GB vs 16GB), which helps at high resolutions and in VRAM-hungry titles. The smaller the gap, the more other factors like price, VRAM and features should decide it.
Which is better value, the RTX 5080 or the RTX 4090?
Value depends on the price you can find each at. The slower card is usually the smart buy if it is meaningfully cheaper, unless you need the extra VRAM or features of the faster one.
Do the RTX 5080 and RTX 4090 need different power supplies?
The RTX 5080 is rated around a 850W PSU and the RTX 4090 around 1000W. Size for the more demanding card if you might upgrade, and prefer an ATX 3.x unit for any 12V-2x6 card.
Make sure your CPU can keep up with either card using the Bottleneck Estimator, or compare more cards in the GPU comparison hub.