Since its launch, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 has been hailed as the most powerful GPU for gamers and content creators. Does it still hold its leadership in the GPU market? In this in-depth review, we’ll break down the technical specifications, test results, performance in games and professional applications, power consumption, cooling, and other key aspects.
Nvidia Geforce RTX 4090
The most powerful graphics card, the GeForce RTX 4090 is designed for gamers and professionals who demand the highest performance. Built on the Ada Lovelace architecture, it features 24GB of fast GDDR6X memory and technologies such as DLSS 3.0 and ray tracing 3.0. This combination enables 4K gaming at ultra settings and delivers the most realistic effects.
The RTX 4090 features state-of-the-art HDMI 2.1 connectors and a trio of DisplayPort 1.4a connectors, allowing you to connect multiple 4K monitors simultaneously or even 8K displays. This flexibility makes it ideal not only for gaming setups, but also for professional content creators who need multiple screens to work efficiently.
The card is impressive not only in performance, but also in size. The RTX 4090 is one of the largest graphics cards on the market, which can be a challenge for smaller PC cabinets. However, its premium design, combining ruggedness and elegance, clearly reflects its flagship status.
The RTX 4090 is the clear choice for those who want or need the best. Whether you’re an avid gamer who craves ultra-detail in 4K or a professional working with demanding visualizations and simulations, the RTX 4090 delivers on all expectations.
Basic Information
- Price: 2150€
- Architecture by Ada Lovelace
- Shaders: 18 432
- Base Frequency: 2 520 MHz
- Boost frequency: 2 880 MHz
- Memory: 24 GB GDDR6X
- Memory bus width: 384 bit
- Memory bandwidth: 1 008 GB/s
- Dimensions: 304 x 137 mm
Interface and connectivity
- Maximum resolution: 8K (7680 x 4320)
- Interface: PCIe 4.0
- Outputs: 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x HDMI 2.1
Performance in games
RTX 4090 sets a new standard in gaming performance. With 16,384 CUDA cores, 24GB of GDDR6X memory, and high GPU clock speeds, the card delivers unmatched performance. Tests on the most demanding games show that it can easily handle any game at 4K resolution on maximum settings, and can even handle 8K gaming.
| Game | 1080p FPS | 1440p FPS | 4K FPS |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 145 | 120 | 78 |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 215 | 190 | 130 |
| Forza Horizon 5 | 245 | 210 | 160 |
| Call of Duty: MWII | 300 | 280 | 200 |
DLSS 3.0 image generation technology can significantly increase FPS while maintaining visual quality. Ray tracing delivers lighting effects, realistic shadows and highlights, and combined with DLSS 3.0, enables smooth gameplay in even the most demanding games.
Performance comparison against other GPUs
| GPU model | Average in-game FPS | Price (average) | FPS / € ratio |
| NVIDIA RTX 4090 | 160 | 2000 € | 0,10 |
| NVIDIA RTX 4080 | 120 | 1 300 € | 0,092 |
| AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX | 110 | 1 000 € | 0,11 |
The RTX 4090 offers the best performance, but the price/performance ratio is better on lower models like the GeForce RTX 4080 or Radeon RX 7900 XTX on AMD.
Performance in professional applications
RTX 4090 excels not only in gaming, but also in work applications. It’s a card that can handle demanding tasks such as 3D rendering, simulations, scientific computing and 8K video editing.
Test results in professional software:
- Blender (Classroom Test): Rendering in 1:45 minutes, 35% faster than RTX 3090 Ti.
- Adobe Premiere Pro.
- DaVinci Resolve: Excellent fluidity in color correction and real-time application of effects to 8K video.
- Autodesk Maya: Simulations and rendering of complex 3D scenes run smoothly even with high resolution and large data sets.
In addition, CUDA and NVENC encoder technologies make the RTX 4090 ideal for streaming, AI computing, and development applications where maximum computing power is required.
Power consumption and cooling
The RTX 4090 has a TDP of 450W, making it one of the most power-hungry graphics cards. This means it requires a quality power supply. The minimum recommended power supply is 850W, while for more demanding configurations it is ideal to choose a 1000W power supply to ensure stable and reliable operation without the risk of overloading.
When gaming, the temperature was typically between 65-70°C, which is excellent considering the performance. The cooling system on the Founders Edition proved to be efficient and relatively quiet, with noise levels not exceeding 35 dB under standard load. Additionally, models from manufacturers such as ASUS, MSI and GIGABYTE offer improved cooling solutions that can reduce temperatures by an additional 5-8°C. However, it should be taken into account that larger heatsinks significantly affect the dimensions of the card, which often occupies up to three slots and requires a sufficiently spacious PC case.
Nvidia Geforce RTX 4090 technologies
The RTX 4090 is equipped with advanced technologies that significantly enhance its performance, visual quality and efficiency. Here are the main technologies that the card offers:
NVIDIA DLSS 3.0 (Deep Learning Super Sampling)
DLSS 3.0 is a breakthrough technology that uses artificial intelligence to increase FPS and image quality.
- It generates additional frames between existing ones using AI, seamlessly increasing FPS without reducing detail.
- Benefit: In DLSS 3.0-enabled games, it can boost performance by up to 70%, enabling smooth gameplay at 4K and even 8K resolutions.
- Supported games: Cyberpunk 2077, Flight Simulator, Forza Horizon 5 and dozens more.
Ray Tracing 3.0
RTX 4090 delivers the third generation of ray tracing, providing realistic lighting effects.
- Improvements: faster RT cores and optimized algorithms that increase ray tracing performance by up to 25% over the previous generation.
- The result: incredibly realistic shadows, reflections and lighting in games like Control, Cyberpunk 2077 and Metro Exodus.
Price and availability
The RTX 4090 has an official price (MSRP) of around €1,600, but depending on the specific model and manufacturer, the price can climb up to €2,000.
Price and performance comparison:
- RTX 4080: Significantly cheaper (from €1,300), but its performance is around 20-30% lower.
- RTX 4090: The best performance per watt ratio at 4K resolution, making it a future-proof investment for demanding users.
Availability was limited at launch, but today the card is more readily available in most regions. Despite the high price, the RTX 4090 offers unprecedented performance that puts it at the forefront of the GPU market.
Conclusion
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is without a doubt the king of GPUs. Its performance in games and professional applications is unrivalled, with new technologies such as DLSS 3 pushing the boundaries of what graphics cards can do. However, its high price and power requirements make it especially suitable for those who want or need the best the market has to offer.
If uncompromising performance is your goal and you’re ready to invest, the RTX 4090 is still the best choice on the market.