The RTX 5090 wins outright on gaming and AI — more VRAM (32 GB vs 24 GB), far higher bandwidth, and top scores — but the RTX 4090 is the better value per dollar, especially used. Buy the 5090 for maximum performance and headroom; buy the 4090 to save money on still-elite performance.
Quick answer. The RTX 5090 is the new flagship and it beats the 4090 on every performance axis, with 32 GB of VRAM and roughly 1.8× the memory bandwidth — a big deal for large AI models and 4K. The RTX 4090 counters with a much lower price (new and used) and better performance per dollar. If budget is the constraint, the 4090 is still one of the fastest cards ever made.
Quick answer: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 leads on both gaming and AI workloads. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 gives the best performance per dollar of the group. Look at VRAM and memory bandwidth for capability, TDP for power and heat, and separate gaming vs AI performance scores. Then weigh new and used prices, and cloud rental cost if you only need the card occasionally. Not necessarily. TDP measures power draw, not performance. A newer architecture can deliver more frames or tokens per watt, so always compare performance scores alongside power, not power alone. Used cards can offer far better value, especially previous-generation flagships. Factor in the lack of warranty and unknown wear. This tool lists both new and used reference prices so you can judge the gap. Head-to-head comparison
Spec
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
VRAM
32 GB (winner)
24 GB
Bandwidth
1792 GB/s (winner)
1008 GB/s
TDP (power)
575 W
450 W (winner)
Gaming score
100/100 (winner)
95/100
AI score
100/100 (winner)
96/100
Price (new)
$2,500
$1,900 (winner)
Price (used)
$2,200
$1,550 (winner)
Cloud rent $/hr
$0.69
$0.34 (winner)
Best for
Gaming, AI / LLMs
Best value, Efficiency
Get it
GPU reference specs
GPU
VRAM
TDP
Bandwidth
Street price
Cloud $/hr
Released
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
32 GB
575 W
1792 GB/s
$2,500
$0.69
2025
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080
16 GB
360 W
960 GB/s
$1,200
$0.40
2025
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070
12 GB
250 W
672 GB/s
$650
$0.25
2025
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
24 GB
450 W
1008 GB/s
$1,900
$0.34
2022
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080
16 GB
320 W
717 GB/s
$1,100
$0.28
2022
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
12 GB
200 W
504 GB/s
$550
$0.20
2023
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
24 GB
350 W
936 GB/s
$900
$0.22
2020
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
12 GB
170 W
360 GB/s
$280
$0.12
2021
NVIDIA A100 80GB
80 GB
400 W
2039 GB/s
$8,000
$1.10
2020
NVIDIA H100 80GB
80 GB
700 W
3350 GB/s
$25,000
$2.49
2022
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
24 GB
355 W
960 GB/s
$850
$0.30
2022
Intel Arc B580
12 GB
190 W
456 GB/s
$250
N/A
2024
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare two GPUs?
Is a higher TDP GPU always faster?
Should I buy new or used when comparing GPUs?
Which should you buy?
- For gaming at 4K / max settings: the 5090 is faster and more future-proof, and its RTX 50 architecture adds DLSS 4 multi-frame generation. The 4090 remains excellent and is the smarter buy if the 5090’s premium isn’t justified for your monitor.
- For AI and local LLMs: the 5090’s extra 8 GB of VRAM and much higher bandwidth let it run larger models faster — the clearest reason to pay up. If your models fit in 24 GB, the 4090 does the job for less.
- On a budget: the 4090 wins value, particularly on the used market, where flagships take their steepest depreciation.
Key differences
- VRAM: 32 GB vs 24 GB — matters most for AI and future 4K titles.
- Bandwidth: ~1,792 vs ~1,008 GB/s — the 5090’s biggest real-world edge.
- Power: the 5090 draws considerably more, so budget for PSU and cooling.
- Price: the 4090 is meaningfully cheaper new and used.
New, used, or cloud
A used 4090 is the value play here. But if you only need this class of card occasionally — a heavy render or an AI run — renting either in the cloud avoids a four-figure purchase entirely. Rent a 5090 or 4090 by the hour.
People also ask
Is the RTX 5090 worth it over the 4090? For 4K gaming headroom and larger AI models, yes — it’s faster with more VRAM. If your workloads fit in 24 GB and budget matters, the 4090 delivers most of the experience for less. How much faster is the 5090 than the 4090? It leads on every metric here, with its largest advantage in memory bandwidth and VRAM capacity; the exact gaming gap depends on the title and resolution.
Related: RTX 5090 vs RTX 5080 · RTX 3090 vs RTX 4090 · All GPU comparisons · Buy vs rent