RTX 5090 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 5090 leads the RTX 4090 by about 11% — a moderate gap. The RTX 5090 has more VRAM (32GB vs 24GB), which helps at high resolutions and in VRAM-hungry titles.
| RTX 5090 | RTX 4090 | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance index | 100/100 | 90/100 |
| VRAM | 32GB | 24GB |
| Board power (TBP) | 575W | 450W |
| Maker PSU guidance | 1000W | 850W |
| Our starting PSU class | 1000W | 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 5090 if you want the higher frame rate and can find it at a fair price. Choose the RTX 4090 if it is clearly cheaper and its 24GB+ of VRAM and features cover your target resolution. Both are from a similar lineage, so price is the main deciding factor.
Power planning: RTX 5090 PSU · RTX 4090 PSU.
RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090 at each resolution
| Resolution | RTX 5090 | RTX 4090 |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | Excellent | Excellent |
| 1440p | Excellent | Excellent |
| 4K | Excellent | Excellent |
On our rating lines the RTX 5090 (100) and RTX 4090 (90) land on the same verdict at every resolution, so the 10-point index gap does not move either card into a different class. Memory, power and the price you can find decide it. The RTX 5090 also carries 8GB more memory (32GB vs 24GB).
Power, PSU and efficiency
Reference board power is 575W for the RTX 5090 and 450W for the RTX 4090, a 125W difference. Per 100W that works out to 17.4 index points for the RTX 5090 and 20 for the RTX 4090, so the RTX 4090 does more per watt. An existing 850W supply meets the maker guidance for the RTX 4090 but not for the RTX 5090 (1000W). Only the RTX 5090 is a current-generation card; the other is mostly found as remaining or used stock. Full sizing: RTX 5090 PSU · RTX 4090 PSU.
Ratings use the same index lines as our GPU resolution pages; the index is an editorial tier summary, not a benchmark. PSU figures are the makers’ reference guidance reviewed 12 September 2026.
Sources & verification
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series specifications
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series specifications
- SpecsCalc calculation methodology and limitations
Relative indices summarize broad gaming tiers and are not a substitute for game-by-game benchmark averages. Price and driver updates can change the buying recommendation. Last reviewed September 19, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is the RTX 5090 better than the RTX 4090?
On our relative index the RTX 5090 is about 11% ahead of the RTX 4090. The RTX 5090 has more VRAM (32GB vs 24GB), 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 5090 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 5090 and RTX 4090 need different power supplies?
The RTX 5090's maker lists a 1000W supply and the RTX 4090's lists 850W; our starting classes are 1000W and 1000W. If you might move to the RTX 5090 later, size for its 1000W now. The RTX 5090 and RTX 4090 can also take a PCIe Gen 5 (12V-2x6) cable; see the connector guide.
Make sure your CPU can keep up with either card using the Bottleneck Estimator, or compare more cards in the GPU comparison hub.